Kenji, a young man from the village, approached Sojun, an elderly monk highly esteemed in the village and surrounding ones for his wisdom. Sojun was sitting by the river in the verdant valley, where he often sat silently.
Kenji was a troubled man who wanted Sojun's guidance in finding peace. The monk motioned to the ground and invited him to sit silently with him. Kinji sat down. Sojun said, "Now, don't speak. Simply watch the river."
After a time, Sojun asked, "Do you see how the river flows on, around rocks, boulders, limbs, and fallen trees?" "Yes," replied the young man. Said the monk, "Flow like the river." "How do I do that?" asked Kenji. "The river," said the monk, "does not cling to its path. The river does not oppose or fight with anything. It accepts them. Don't cling to your path, let obstacles shape your way, don't fight with them, and you will enjoy peace."
* * *
One of the Three Poisons, the sources of distress and dissatisfaction taught in Buddhism, is rendered "clinging" or "greed." Greed can be our demand that a person, situation, or ourself be as we want. We can find ourselves wrestling with reality. Does that not sound futile - wrestling with reality?
We would do well, instead, to realize we are one with reality - we are reality. When in harmony with what is without, there is harmony within. We and our way interare with all happening along our way. We and the road walk together; the road walks, we walk. We and breath breathe together.
* * *
In the nature of the river is the capacity to adjust its course. The path is the adjustment. Can you imagine how a river would suffer - if it had our capacity for feelings - by fighting with the diverse objects in its path? If you could speak to the river, you could say, "Hey! That's useless. You're only making yourself miserable."
In the Tao Te Ching, the ancient Taoist classic ascribed to Lao Tzu, we read of the flexibility and adaptability, the nonaggression, that fosters health and vitality, including long life -
Those of universal nature [Tao] are like water; they benefit all things but do not contend with them.
And -
The ancient ones who knew how to live with the subtle essence of the universe [Tao] were gentle and flexible, ...
They adapted themselves to a circumstance like melting ice.
... like the water of a stream flowing down a mountain, they benefitted all things.
Who else could move constantly from the gross and heavy to the light and pure?
Who else could evolve steadily from the inert and stagnant to everlasting life?
Those who hold fast to the subtly [viz. subtle] essence of the universe [Tao] do not desire to extend themselves in climax.
Because there is no climax to one's extension and expansion, life is continually renewing itself.
And...
When a person is alive, they are soft and supple. When a person dies, they become hard and rigid. When a plant is alive, it is pliant and tender. When a plant is dead, it becomes dry and brittle. Hence, the hard and rigid are companions of the dead. The soft and supple are companions of the living.
*Lao Tzu. The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching and Hua Hu Ching. Trans. & Commentary, Hua Ching Ni. [Inclusive adaptation by this writer].
Peace can arise through acceptance. Acceptance is a spiritual principle. Acceptance is not forcing yourself to like or agree with something and is not being passive. Acceptance is a vivid, clear position from which you can adapt and take action if action is needed. Sometimes, nonaction is the wise action. If action is not needed, one can be at peace with, as the late Buddhist teacher Suzuki Roshi said, "things as it is" (Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind). You are at peace with all life when you are at peace with one thing.
* * *
I went into a store. At checkout, I spoke kindly to the associate. She ignored me. Then, I had trouble figuring out how to use the credit card machine. I kept tapping my card - I usually insert it - where a tapping sign was, but the actual place to tap was above. While she was trying to clarify what to do a second time, the associate spoke angrily. I chose to insert the card. After removing it and taking the bag with the merchandise, I walked out quietly, though she, in a matter of fact manner, wished me to have a good day. I was saying, "I'll not fight with reality." But could I have responded otherwise, more wisely, more kindly?
I felt unwell that day, very sensitive physically for some reason. If I had felt otherwise, I might have smiled and spoken some kind words in reply. Do we not, at times, look back and think of how we could have handled things better? We need not be harsh with ourselves. Sometimes, it is wise to admit that we did our best in the moment. We cannot anticipate all the things along the path anymore than a river can. To cling always to handling situations in the best way is also unhealthy greed - greed to always be right and get it - whatever - right... a sure recipe for misery.
* * *
Living like the river means being, enjoying, and sharing peace. Life is not intended to be a continuous struggle. We are not here to make war with reality. A wisdom path guides us, like the monk in our story today, to a wise and enlightened way of living. We can learn better to relax our grasp and enjoy ease. Being at peace with life, others sense this, and our peace attracts them to peace.
* * *
*(C) Brian K. Wilcox, 2024. Permission is given to use photographs and writings with credit given to the copyright owner.
*Brian's book is An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love. The book is a collection of poems Brian wrote based on wisdom traditions, predominantly Christian, Buddhist, and Sufi, with extensive notes on the poetry's teachings and imagery.
