12/31/2023 0 Comments Zen koan meaningSecondly, the original quote is from Layman Pang from Wikipedia: "Layman Pang (Chinese 龐居士 Páng Jūshì Japanese Hōkoji) (740–808) was a celebrated lay Buddhist in the Chinese Chán (Zen) tradition. Where only the last two are the ones established as ultimate phenomena.įirstly, Zen is not ashamed that monks and priests integrate daily life into practice in the form of work. The last step, nonetheless, is realising Three Natures of all things: The only difference is that this original saying you posted, omits the intermediary part where one " doesn't chop the wood, and carry water". Mountains are once again mountains and waters once again waters.Īs yous see there are three phases of conception (turnings). Mountains and waters are no longer waters after enlightenment, Since Zen is all about Yogacara, elaboration of that is conveyed in Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma sutras that are essential parts of this school.īefore one studies Zen, mountains are mountains and waters are waters Īfter a first glimpse into the truth of Zen, mountains are no longer Enlightened being continues to do the same activities in after Enlightenment - but the perception of reality is drastically different. There are signs, but sings are not signs, therefore they are signs. Teaching about the nature of signs and conceptual appearances coming from mind and eventually, transcending the dualistic nature of mind. It relates to the essential Mahayana teaching Diamond Sutra and Heart Sutra refer to. Now, I understand that the key to everything is that everything is,'chopping wood and carrying water.' and that if one does everything mindfully then it is all the same." I read all of the scrolls, I met with Kings and and gave council. Like you I understood that someone had to do these things, but like you I wanted to move forward. Every day I would chop wood and carry water. The Abbot gestured to the scrolls on shelves lining the walls. He replied every day all I do is chop wood and carry water. He did so and the Abbot saw he looked sad and asked him why. One day he was told to take some tea to the Abbot in his chambers. He attended prayers and meditation, but the teaching he was given was rather sparse. When he got to the monastery he was told that each morning he had to chop wood for the monks fires and then carry water up to the monastery for ablutions and the kitchen. He dreamed of enlightenment and of learning great things. Here is an abbreviated version.Ī young boy became a monk. You still feel the same conflicts and oppositions, but now you have learned that you can choose how you react to those things, and that is the only control any of us have. Your feelings don't change, the world doesn't change. You probably can't flip your perspective at will, it takes monks, shamans and yogis lifetimes to reach that level, but at least now you know that it is your choice to chop wood and carry water. You have not mastered your mind, and you are a fool to think you have but you know that you don't have to be chopped by the wood and carried by the water anymore. No other bank to be reached, no Nirvana to seek. Because there is no "you", no ego, no personality, no being, no separate individuality - there is no conflict. All activities are equalized, there is no preference, no discrimination. And even beyond "beyond the beyond".Īnother user proposed a slightly more cynical version:Īfter Enlightenment, you are no more in harmony with the universe than you were before, but you try to remind yourself through your ongoing Hell on earth that for one shining, brilliant moment, you realized the emptiness of it all, so sometimes now you see that there is nothing more important than chopping wood and carrying water. It is your choice to chop wood and carry water, and you live it in complete suchness and spontaneity. But also, because you have mastered your mind, you are not chopped by the wood and carried by the water anymore. You realized emptiness of it all, so you see that there is nothing more important than chopping wood and carrying water. This could go for eternity, it is like living in eternal hell.Īfter Enlightenment, you are in harmony with the universe. In a way, you are a victim, a slave - the wood chops you and the water carries you, and there is no way to escape. You bear with these activities through habit and out of hopelessness, but you really wish you could do something else. You chop wood and carry water, but secretly wish to get out of it all. Before Enlightenment, you hate your life.
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