New innerstanding of old Zen koan. What I had never considered until this past week — a week we have been calling Snowpocalypse here in the Tennessee mountains — is the primal nature of the activities singled out in the koan. I mean, it could have been “harvest rice and sweep the dojo” or “bake bread and feed the yaks.” Right?
Thanks Stella! Last week was pretty freakin' grim at times. I tend to shut down when I get too cold. The poor dog spent so much of the week curled into a tight little ball on the couch, preserving energy one presumes. And...there is still a certain beauty in not having the time or inclination to think about all the mental shit that can eat up so much energy (what's going on in the world, things I "should" be doing but am not doing...I feel like this experience so far (not the extreme cold but the off grid thing) has shown me where I really want to live my life - doing simple things, enjoying beauty every day, not feeling rushed or pressured by things outside of my control...
Goodness! I'm so happy to hear you guys survived the weekend. I've only seen snow once in this lifetime and can only imagine the "Snowpocalypse". On another note I'm actually just a lot envious of the simplicity of your life - chop wood, carry water. Oh to be part of a world unencumbered by the many distractions of modern world problems. To just be focusing on simple pleasures and what you need to do to "survive". Thanks for your post, Stella
Thanks Stella! Last week was pretty freakin' grim at times. I tend to shut down when I get too cold. The poor dog spent so much of the week curled into a tight little ball on the couch, preserving energy one presumes. And...there is still a certain beauty in not having the time or inclination to think about all the mental shit that can eat up so much energy (what's going on in the world, things I "should" be doing but am not doing...I feel like this experience so far (not the extreme cold but the off grid thing) has shown me where I really want to live my life - doing simple things, enjoying beauty every day, not feeling rushed or pressured by things outside of my control...
Goodness! I'm so happy to hear you guys survived the weekend. I've only seen snow once in this lifetime and can only imagine the "Snowpocalypse". On another note I'm actually just a lot envious of the simplicity of your life - chop wood, carry water. Oh to be part of a world unencumbered by the many distractions of modern world problems. To just be focusing on simple pleasures and what you need to do to "survive". Thanks for your post, Stella