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
Anonymous
Answer from Master Kosen
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.
Kosen