Sometimes the path seems very difficult. It may indeed be the case that all of us already have Buddha nature, and that the Kingdom of Heaven is already here in this present moment… but Watashi-wa is a long way from realising it.
Some things are very hard to do well. Writing, for instance. You can teach people to write, but I am not sure that people can write really well unless they have some natural ability too. For me, singing is very difficult. Music, mathematics, acting… aren’t they all like that? Desire and commitment will get you some of the way, but by themselves they are not quite enough.
I really hope that spirituality is different, that the commitment itself is enough. And, happily, this is the sense I get. Saint Porphyrios said:
‘Work with vigilance, simply and naturally, without anxiety, with joy and happiness, with a good disposition. And then divine grace will come.’
The qualities he stresses the most are patience (which – he says – requires love), and humility.
For Suzuki Roshi, it is a simple, natural thing too:
‘When you practise zazen, just practise zazen. If enlightenment comes, it just comes. We should not attach to the attainment. The true quality of zazen is always there, even if you are not aware of it, so forget all about what you think you may have gained from it. Just do it. The quality of zazen will express itself, then you will have it.’
Patience is also central for Suzuki Roshi:
‘…there is no need to worry about progress. It is like studying a foreign language; you cannot do it all of a sudden, but by repeating it over and over you will master it. This is the Soto way of practice. We can either say we make progress little by little, or that we do not even expect to make progress. Just to be sincere and make our full effort in each moment is enough.’
Watashi-wa finds this very comforting.
watashi-wa in the snow 