Questions to Master Deshimaru

Question

Yes, but sometimes the very fact that you don't have a goal can be a problem.

Answer

You don't need a goal if, here and now, you are concentrating on what you are doing: on your work when you're working, on your food when you're eating, on going to the toilet when you're on the toilet. When you speak, just speak, and say only what is important in that particular situation. Here and now, if you are concentrated, your concentration will follow you to your death and illuminate you unfailingly; but that is not having a goal. On the other hand, you must have an ideal that is necessary. But an ideal and a goal are completely different. The greatest ideal is universal love, not selfish love. Universal love is not a goal, it's an ideal. Hope is necessary too. What is hope? Do you hope to become a clever politician? Not so good. A great artist? Maybe. But what is a great ideal? Action without any thought of profit, mushotoku. That is the greatest ideal. It's useless to long for money or honors. Only concentrate here and now. That is Zen.