Question

How do we live a spiritual life with so much dysfunction around us? I feel it is much like my practice. Sitting without wanting an outcome but wanting an outcome none the less

Answer from Master Keisen

That is just the point I would guess. If there is so much dysfunction around us, then really we have to live a spiritual life. If you don't, who will do it? Who will help this dysfunction except yourself, helping the world by your spiritual practice.
The more you look for an outcome, the more this outcome will run away from you. This is not a question of wanting an outcome or not. Dogen says: "If you built a pound, do not expect that the moon will reflect itself in it. Build your pound and naturally, when it is done, the moon will reflect itself on it."
Continue practicing and naturally the outcome that you were searching will disapear by itself. Realisation of the awakening will appear obvious to you, like the moon in the pound, providing you do not make waves in it all the time. Searching something for oneself is like agitating the water of the pound, nothing can then be seen. Spiritual life has of course nothing really to do with looking for catching something for oneself. Practicing is just the activity of all Buddhas, in zazen practice but also in everyday life.
Just practice and do good.

Mondo On the same theme : Everyday life

Goals

We are advised to practice zen without any goal, since it is the path, the process and practice themselves that should be the center and it is through them that we attain our goal. Is it the same in life at large? Should I abandon my goals in life and concentrate on what life gives me?
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Daily living

How do we live a spiritual life with so much dysfunction around us? I feel it is much like my practice. Sitting without wanting an outcome but wanting an outcome none the less
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Dear Master!I`m writing from Norway, where I got back 3 times to take a job, try myself and get to know myself. i feel the same all the time, I can`t do it, but insist on it to fullfit my dream and attain the knowlidges and find myself even if I`m alone and am among uknown people. If I feel the pain in my stomach in hara it means i have to ...

Burned out

I started practicing Buddhism more than ten years ago, I did retreats, etc., but my life is just as miserable as before, or even more. I have lost my faith in chanting mantras or sitting because it had not made me any happier or wiser. I feel old and kind of burned out, I do not feel the slightest inspiration to sit zazen, chant mantras or ...





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