This weeks’ topic for reflection is the forth of Dogen’s Eight Awakenings of Great Beings, diligent effort. According to Vocabulary.com, “Doing something diligently means doing it thoroughly and well. It's the opposite of doing it lazily or shoddily. If you are tireless, persevering, and do things with great care, then you do things diligently.” Dogen combines diligent with the word effort. Tirelessly persevering with great care describes Dogens’ effort.
I think Dogen is advocating we do everything with diligent effort. I don’t think this means getting all stressed but just do things thoroughly and well because it matters. The effort can be natural and easy if you genuinely care. He is not saying work hard to fix everything. The lazy shoddy way is a lousy way to live and expresses an attitude of not caring.
When we wake up, we respond with diligent effort because we care about the details. And as Joko Beck said, “It’s all details.” I read that one of Suzuki Roshis’ student said that one of his most important teachings was how he placed his shoes in the shoe rack when he entered the Zendo.
Practicing diligent effort helps us see where we withhold and don’t want to share or participate thoroughly. It’s hard work holding on to what we have and protecting it from others. It seems diligent effort is naturally open and expansive and the effort grows and is shared.
See how it feels to be diligent.
Please join us for morning Zoom zazen from 7:00 to 7:30 Tuesday and Thursday, in person Zen meditation in Eugene Saturday morning at the McNail-Riley house from 9:00 to 11:00 and Sunday morning Zoom zazen and discussion of the topic for reflection blog from 8:00 to 9:00 Pacific Time. Here’s the Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 811 6100 3357
Passcode: 278259
Gassho,
Futai
Opmerkingen