
“Zenfully Quool Quotes”
Currently featuring “The Art of Living”
By Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
BEING BUSINESS-LESS
Master Lin-Chi exhorted his students to be “business-less.”
It means to not be getting busy all the time,
to be free from busyness.
If we can be business-less,
we can touch the spirit of aimlessness in our daily life,
not being carried away by our desires, plans, and projects.
We don’t do things to get praise or status;
we don’t try to play a role.
Wherever we are,
we can be sovereign of ourselves.
We’re no longer swept away by our environment;
we’re no longer pushed or swayed by the crowd.
Whatever we are doing,
we can do it with ease and freedom.
For Master Lin-Chi,
the ideal life is not to be an enlightened “arhat” or a “bodhisattva”
devoted to serving all beings,
but to be a business-less person.
A person who is business-less
has realized the insights of
emptiness, signlessness, and aimlessness.
They are not caught in the idea of a self,
they have no need for the “signs” of fame or status,
and they dwell freely and happily in the present moment.
To be business-less is to live our daily life in touch with the ultimate dimension.
In the ultimate dimension,
there is nothing to do.
We already are what we want to become.
We are relaxed; we are at peace.
There is no need to run anymore.
We are happy and free from worry and anxiety.
This is the way of being that is most needed in the world.
It is very pleasant to dwell in the ultimate dimension,
and we should all learn how to do it.
“But,” you may ask,
“if we are happy in the present moment,
with nowhere to go and nothing to do,
then who will help living beings become liberated?
Who will rescue those who are drowning in the ocean of suffering?
Does being aimless make us indifferent to the suffering in the world?
If our priority is to be free and happy,
doesn’t that paralyze us,
and lead us to avoid the challenges and difficulties of trying to help others?”
The Buddha was no longer looking or yearning for anything,
no longer striving, and yet
he was someone who never ceased to help liberate all beings.
Throughout the forty-five years of his ministry,
he continued to help liberate others from their suffering,
even to the last moments of his life.
Being aimless doesn’t mean we are without compassion and loving-kindness.
As soon as we have compassion, loving-kindness, and understanding,
we naturally have a strong motivation to act and to help.
When our work and life has a spiritual dimension,
we’re able to sustain ourselves, take care of ourselves,
and avoid burning out.
It is possible to work, serve, and engage as a free person
without getting lost in our work.
We don’t miss out on the present moment striving or struggling
to achieve a future goal—
we live deeply each moment of our work.
This is the meaning of aimlessness.
The peace, freedom, compassion, and loving-kindness we radiate already
helps those around us to suffer less.
We are not passive.
To be passive means to be pulled, pushed, and swayed by
circumstances or the people around us.
But our freedom and sovereignty means that
we don’t become a victim of circumstances.
With compassion and insight, we ask ourselves,
“In this situation,
what can I do to stop things getting worse?
How can I help the situation improve?”
When we know that we are doing our best on the path of relieving suffering,
it is possible to be at peace every step along the way.
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Zenfully Quool Quotes Quommentary
by rog
“Busy-ness”…
Seems to be programmed into our being…
We can’t keep still.
We seem to need to be entertained or engaged in something…
All the time.
These daze…
We all need to be plugged in and online most of the time to stay in the game…
So to speak.
but we also need down time…
time to hibernate the constant thought generating problem solving natured
brain drain.
Some hope that mind exercises to keep the mind expanding…
Will give an advantage…
Perhaps there is useful balance of all the aspects that contribute to
more resourceful and effective solutions…
and certainly…
keeping an inspiration to learn and understand as much as one can.
But,
Like a trained athlete, there needs to be significant rest time.
A time to put down the smart phone or at least making it ‘do not disturb’…
My personal favorite.
And …
Just … Be.
Let it be… and just…
Be aware.
Sure,
It’s easy to just let it be…
While in the beauty of nature.
But,
We can always steady our minds a wee bit…
Then relax, or surrender into ‘the moment’.
Allow yourself time to notice the breeze… or however the air feels.
Birds, nature sounds, distant sounds…
The breath…
The energy that flows in it…
Is it anxious… or confident, is it
racing to catch up
to where we think we should be?
Be mindful of what the random thought generating bio computer is up to
Don’t let it ruminate yourself into a rut.
Some find it hard to … ‘just be’.
but,
the ever present moment is aligned with the breath…
‘it’s ever present’ for our lifetime.
There is an art to this…
Equanimity is born from mastering this.
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