Gary Snyder is a well-renowned Zen Buddhist and poet. While this poem may only seem tangentially related to Zen, I like how this poem blur the lines between Zen disciples and monks, and the regular, hardworking people that do their work just to put food on the table. There is no other life and there are no differences.
That’s something you’ll find a lot of Zen masters say, as well. The essence of Zen, really, is just ordinary every day life. Quoting Danxia Tianran:
These days students of spirituality are busy with the latest ideas, practicing various meditations and asking about “the way.” I don’t have any “way” for you to practice here, and there isn’t any doctrine to be confirmed. Just eat and drink. Everyone can do that. Don’t hold on to doubt. It’s the same everyplace! Just recognize that Shakyamuni Buddha was a regular old fellow. You must see for yourself. Don’t spend your life trying to win some competitive trophy, blindly misleading other blind people, all of you marching right into hell, struggling in duality. I’ve nothing more to say. Take care!
Or as later - more succinctly put perhaps - by several other masters when asked what is the secret to Zen:
When hungry - eat. When tired - sleep.
Anyway I really liked this poem. That first line is really beautiful.
Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water!
When your study of Buddhism is through, you find you haven’t anything new. Enlightenment and delusion too never existed at the start. They’re ideas that you picked up, things your parents never taught. If you think the mind that attains enlightenment is “mine” your thoughts will wrestle, one with the other. These days I’m not bothering about getting enlightenment all the time, and the result is that I wake up in the morning feeling fine!
- The great Bankei
