A tree is not a tree. I’m a tree.

A monk asked, “What is my self?”
Joshu said, “The oak tree in the front yard. Look at it.”

Life is difficult right now. I’m being bombarded by stress-inducing events. Major transitions are happening. It’s difficult to remember that I’m the oak tree. I still get overwhelmed by stress. Thoughts root deep and crowd the mind ground. Weeds at the base. I tear them out and more grow in place. Where do they root? The same place as the tree.

A monk asked Yunmen, "How is it when the tree withers and the leaves fall?"
Yunmen said, "Body exposed in the golden wind."

Body exposed is naked branches. The myriad streams all beginning and ending at the root. Even the root is bare. I let the branches grow.

Metaphors aside, what do Zen masters have to say about stress? When life events dominate, and demand attention, it seems the source fades into the background of all this so very convincing illusion. The illusion that “I” am threatened. The illusion that “I” have been wronged and need to seek justice. The non stop thoughts, trying to imagine the right thing to do, as if that’s a real thing. Trying to manifest the scenarios that will grant the best outcome. For who? An oak tree?

When I’m being slapped in the face by life, when people are snapping off my branches, it’s hard to keep in touch with the root. It’s hard to stay aware that the branches aren’t mine.

There’s work to do.

Submitted July 23, 2022 at 11:15AM by bcntwo https://ift.tt/pLwYuoy