Because I'm Here
Beginner's Mind
Nobody Told Me Anything

Because I'm Here

An old monk was sweeping the yard in a monastery under the scorching sun.

Another monk passed by and asked him, "How old are you?"

The old monk replied, "I'm seventy-seven."

"You are so old! Why are you still working so hard here?"

"Well, because I'm here."

"But why are you working under the scorching sun?"

"Because the sun is there."

Act without worrying about the results, and strive for excellence without dwelling on it. If we put all of our hearts into what we do without complaining, we can become one with the "Way."

Beginner's Mind

Once, a professor went to a Zen Master. He asked him to explain the meaning of Zen. The Master quietly poured a cup of tea. The cup was full but he continued to pour.

The professor could not stand this any longer, so he questioned the Master impatiently, "Why do you keep pouring when the cup is full?"

"I want to point out to you," the Master said, "that you are similarly attempting to understand Zen while your mind is full. First, empty your mind of preconceptions before you attempt to understand Zen."

"If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few."--Suzuki Roshi

Nobody Told Me Anything

A disciple asked his Dharma Master: "How can I calm my mind?"

The master said, "I am too busy to talk to you right now. Why not consult your First Dharma Brother?"

He did as he was told and asked the same question.

The First Dharma Brother said, "I have a headache. I can't talk now. Why not talk to Second Dharma Brother?"

But the Second Dharma Brother said, "I have a stomach ache, why don't you just go and talk to our Dharma Master?"

So he went back to his master and complained, "Nobody told me anything. Nobody gave me any answers."

But the master said to him reprovingly, "You really are a stupid fool. Everybody has been giving you the answer."

Because of this, the disciple reached enlightenment.

-- told by Master Sheng-Yen