You Have to Say Something: Manifesting Zen Insight

Zen is everyday life—to live day by day. And day by day is today—right now, right here.

Each moment gives us a great opportunity to extend compassion to everyday things and events. True compassion works beyond our intention. It is inconceivable and wondrous. It can manifest in even the most ordinary moment.

Under all circumstances, we must be rooted in the source of existence.

whatever you think, however much you scream, the disease, the cancer, life and death—all go on beyond the world of attachments that you create. You must learn to deal with death without attaching to it, without holding on to anything at all.

In Sanskrit, the word for “right” is samma. It means “to go along with,” “to go together,” “to turn together.” It originally comes from a term that means “to unite.” So “right” is a state of being in which everything can live together, or turn together, united.

But no matter how long we discuss the question “What should I do?” there is no conclusion. You must just be here. “Here” doesn’t mean Minneapolis or San Francisco. “Here” means right now.

Any time we try to explain life, it’s nothing but a painting. It’s just thought. Concepts. Utter abstractions. These things will never satisfy our hunger.

There is nowhere to go. This is liberation. It’s very simple. Too simple. If you touch it, it’s gone. Freedom is very intimate. It’s like a secret in your heart.

It is called living in vow, aspiring to awaken each moment. To live in vow is to take care of the little details of life—like getting up in the morning. When it is time to get up, just get up.