I Have No Time!

Many years ago Tricycle magazine ran an article with excerpts of the teachings of Kodo Sawaki Roshi. He was better known as “Homeless Kodo” and was an influential Zen master.

Here is one of his teachings:

To you who are complaining all the time that you haven’t got any time

Everybody complains that they’re so busy they haven’t got any time. But why are they so busy? It’s only their illusions that keep them busy. A person who practices zazen has time. When you practice zazen, you have more time than anyone else in the world.

If you aren’t careful, you’ll start making a big fuss just to feed yourself. You’re constantly in a hurry, but why? Just to feed yourself. Chickens too are in a hurry when they peck at their food. But why? Only to be eaten by humans.

How many illusions does a person create in their lifetime? It’s impossible to calculate. Day in, day out, “I want this, I want that . . .” Just a single stroll in the park is accompanied by incalculable illusions. So that’s what it means to be “busy.” “I want to be with you, I want to come home, I want to see you. . . .”

People are constantly out of breath— from running so quickly after their illusions.

In an earlier blog I wrote about how our frenetic activity is what keeps us anxious and tense and high strung.

The solution to our woes is simple.

Wherever you are, be there!

It is not easy, but it is the only permanent solution to suffering!

Peace!