Originally published: April 29, 2012 by remingtoncooney | What is enlightenment you ask? When I was young boy, around the age of 6, what I wanted to be when I grew up, was a garbage man. Specifically, the garbage man who hangs on the back of the truck during that smelly joy-ride round town. Why did I want to be that? For a long time I wasn’t sure. As a young child I was interested in very strange things: stick insects, flying lizards, the flashing lights on top of cop cars…and garbage trucks. I guess you could say I had ‘alternative’ interests. Nowadays, the occupation doesn’t appeal to me anymore, and I’m thankful to say that my career aspirations have evolved, for want of a better word (although, I have utmost respect for garbage men – tough job!). At first, looking back on this desire slightly disturbed me, but now I can understand it perfectly. My desire to be a garbage man was actually quite profound. For it is only in the recent months that I have come to fully realize that taking out the garbage is the most enlightening thing you can do. Note: As I write this, I have two overflowing trash bags that are sitting on my kitchen floor, awaiting to be taken out. I still have many things to learn. For a long time I sought spiritual wisdom in far off places. I had plans in the back of my mind to travel to spiritual havens like ashrams in India and Tibet. I wanted to renounce the world and be like the Taoist hermits of the great Hua-Shan mountain, sitting and meditating; transcending this material existence so that I could become of the air, of the sky, of purity (as you can see, my interests have remained somewhat ‘alternative’ even still). In moments of existential crisis, I would voice my desires of renunciation to my mother, an all knowing oracle, and just like the ancient sages, she would reply with wise words: “don’t be an idiot, stay in school,” and she would give me a virtual slap through the telephone. With such words, I was brought back down to ground and remained focused on the task at hand, within the moment that is now. At the time, I didn’t see why this was important. I criticized it, I swore at it, I was in angst, and felt I needed to escape. In hindsight, I now see ‘the task at hand’ as an invaluable element to our daily living. Immersing yourself in the task at hand, no matter how mundane the task is, is immersing yourself in the power of now (hats off to Tolle). If you can be content with the task at hand, whatever that task may be, you are transcending. One of the more tedious tasks commonly at hand, is taking out the garbage. Now, in my belief, the most awakenening experiences are achieved through the most wearisome chores. The more monotonous the task, and the more enjoyment you can get out of it, the more you are simultaneously transcending, whilst remaining grounded in the here and now. Let me explain further through an old Zen tale: There was once a Zen monk (let us call him Soto) who was practicing at a monastery under the great Zen master, Joshu. Soto was particularly eager to reach enlightenment, and after years of participating in Zazen meditation and other rituals, he was finally overcome by angst and approached Joshu with his dilemma: “Master Joshu, I’ve been here 10 years now and all the while, have been dedicated to my practice, and yet, I still do not feel I am getting any closer to enlightenment. Why is this? Joshu remained silent at first, breathing slowly. His eyes focused, not on Soto, but on the surroundings of the monastery. Finally, his eyes came to rest on the monk bowing in front of him: “Have you eaten your rice porridge?” asked Joshu. “Well… yes I have, but what has this to do with my question?” “If you have eaten your rice porridge, then you must wash your bowl.” Upon saying this, Joshu rose up and walked away, leaving a perplexed Soto to ponder this riddle. The idea behind this parable, is that enlightenment exists ONLY in the present moment. When we seek something, we are stepping out of the present, into the future or past. We lose focus of the task at hand, and yet that is where this so called ‘enlightenment’ resides. By coming to Joshu with questions of enlightenment, Soto was stepping out of the present moment (breakfast time), and musing on what had happened in his life so far, and what would potentially happen. Joshu is saying, forget about enlightenment for it is not a matter worth worrying about. What is a matter worth worrying about is doing the dishes. For you have had your breakfast, so now that has become a thing of the past. What is now present is the washing up. As soon as Soto begins living his life through present awareness – that is, being fully focused on the task at hand – all desires of reaching enlightenment will cease to exist. Once this had occurred, Soto becomes an empty vessel and, as a result, the Tao can now pass into him. In other words, when we empty ourselves of our desires and become one with the present, we are opening ourselves to the infinite potential of possibility; we are opening ourselves to the Tao. We have no judgement on how the past will influence our future. We have no judgement on how past desires will influence future desires. It is in this state that so-called ‘enlightenment’ exists. Those that can remain empty vessels for the Tao to fill, are those that are enlightened. Joshu used the activity of washing a bowl, as a symbol of washing out the mind. He was suggesting that when one comes back to the present moment and focuses on the task at hand, they are washing their mind of desire to reach enlightenment. Once this desire, along with the mind’s preconceptions, are washed away, the mind is empty and enlightenment is now achievable. In a similar sense, I have expanded on this Zen tale with the notion of taking out the garbage. For this is an even more menial task than washing the dishes. Hence, this is where enlightenment is to be found: in the horrible smells of the dumpster outside; in the horrible mould that exists on the inside of the kitchen trash bag. If you can treat this activity as the most blissful activity of your day, you are surely on your way to becoming enlightened… But remember, for those who are truly becoming enlightened, enlightenment is actually the last thing on their mind. Thoughts of enlightenment do not exist in the here and now. Only enlightenment itself exists in the present moment, and it is disguised as a garbage bag (which you must take out). So, do as Joshu instructs and forget about enlightenment altogether. It is not a matter of any importance. What matters is taking out the trash. The next time you do so, try to empty your mind in the course of the event. Imagine all your thoughts, desires, worries, and anxieties pouring out of your head into the garbage bag you are tying up. Now your bowl is washed. The rubbish in your head is removed and you can proceed to take it out. As you walk towards the dumpster outside remain aware of the present moment. Use this time to become aware of your surroundings; your peripherals. What can you smell? What do you notice about taking out the garbage? Don’t place judgement, just treat the moment as a complete observer. It is difficult, I know. That is why it is the greatest time to meditate. What is enlightenment you ask? Enlightenment is taking out the garbage. Originally published: April 29, 2012 by remingtoncooney |
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