How to Love Your Ordinary Life – Philosophy of Zen Buddhism

Summary

In "How to Love Your Ordinary Life – Philosophy of Zen Buddhism," the video explores how Zen Buddhism offers pathways to appreciate the ordinary aspects of life, leading to true happiness and satisfaction. By focusing inward, embracing meditation, and acknowledging human ignorance, Zen principles teach us that joy is found not in extraordinary achievements but within our daily routines and mindset. Through meditation techniques like 'shikan taza' or 'zazen,' individuals learn to focus on the present, let go of external distractions, and find peace within themselves. The philosophy highlights the importance of self-exploration, acceptance of ignorance, and living in the "here-now" as keys to a fulfilled life.

Highlights

• The core teaching of Zen Buddhism is to appreciate ordinary life for happiness 🌟
• The practice of 'shikan taza' or 'just sitting' helps focus inward and on the present 🪑
• Zen encourages seeing things without clinging to them, like observing thoughts pass by a mirror 🌈
• Recognizing and embracing ignorance can free the mind from the pursuit of impossible knowledge 🎓
• Living in the 'here-now' allows for true freedom and satisfaction with one's life 🎈

Key Takeaways

• Embrace the ordinary to find true happiness 🌼
• Meditation is the gateway to self-realization 🧘‍♂️
• Recognize and accept your ignorance to live freely 🤔
• Living in the present moment brings contentment ⏳
• Let go of the pursuit of extraordinary achievements for inner peace ✌️

Overview

Zen Buddhism teaches us that real happiness does not come from extraordinary achievements, but from appreciating the simplicity of daily life. This belief encourages us to look inward and embrace the ordinary, rather than constantly chasing bigger accomplishments or extraordinary moments. By focusing on simple daily tasks, we learn to find joy and satisfaction in what we have, rather than what we do not.

Key practices in Zen, like the meditation technique 'shikan taza,' guide practitioners to focus on the present and appreciate their own personhood and existence. Meditation stills the mind and provides a peaceful space where individuals can reflect on their own thoughts and feelings without judgment, helping them to become 'Zen' people who find joy in existence itself.

Accepting ignorance is another profound aspect of Zen Buddhism. By understanding that humans can never completely know everything, we liberate ourselves from constant worry and expectation. This philosophy invites us to live in the 'here-now,' a state of being where one engages fully with life as it is, without succumbing to fantasies of the future or regrets of the past.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Zen Buddhism In the chapter titled 'Introduction to Zen Buddhism', a young monk seeks guidance from an experienced monk. When he asks to be taught everything the older monk knows, he is given a simple piece of advice: to wash his bowl after eating rice porridge. This interaction subtly imparts wisdom on living mindfully and handling routine daily tasks with care.
• 00:30 - 01:00: The Desire for an Extraordinary Life In the chapter titled 'The Desire for an Extraordinary Life', the focus is on our universal desire to live an extraordinary life and how this desire often leads to unhappiness. Zen Buddhism offers a solution by teaching the importance of appreciating the ordinary. The term 'Zen' is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the middle Chinese word 'chán', meaning 'meditation', and is a form of Buddhism known for its distinct approach.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Focus on the Present and the Ordinary The chapter emphasizes the importance of focusing on personhood and the present moment, rather than abstract concepts like life, death, and religion. It highlights 'Zen' as an inward-looking practice that centers on the ordinary aspects of life. Zen, like other forms of Buddhism, is portrayed not as an ideology or belief system, but as a way of life. Originating in India, Buddhism spread throughout Asia, evolving into various sub-sections, including Zen.
• 01:30 - 02:00: The Spread of Zen Buddhism Zen Buddhism originated in China and evolved into a prominent school of Buddhism, gaining wide acceptance and success across China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. The practice emphasizes becoming a 'Zen person' through a method known as 'shikan taza,' or 'just sitting,' which involves meditating with complete focus, free from distractions and ego. This chapter discusses how concentrating on oneself is central to this practice.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Practicing 'Shikan Taza' The chapter titled 'Practicing Shikan Taza' focuses on Zen philosophy, emphasizing the importance of concentrating on the present and ordinary aspects of life. It suggests that happiness does not require extraordinary experiences or achievements; instead, it can be found in appreciating oneself and the simplicity of everyday life.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Benefits of Zen Buddhism This chapter discusses the benefits of Zen Buddhism, highlighting that it is a practice not attributed to a single individual, but rather developed through the teachings of multiple Zen monks, including Baso Dōitsu, Dōgen Zenji, Ryōkan Taigu, Kōdō Sawaki, Shunryū Suzuki, and Shōhaku Okumura. The focus is on teaching how appreciating ordinary life can lead to personal transformation and becoming the best version of oneself.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Quotes from Zen Monks This chapter explores the simplicity and depth of Zen Buddhism through quotes from Zen monks. It highlights the fundamental practice of 'Zazen' or sitting meditation, as emphasized by Zen monk Kodo Sawaki, who suggests that the more one meditates, the less they need. The chapter metaphorically relates the essence of Zen to simple acts like washing your bowl after eating, symbolizing mindfulness and presence in everyday actions.
• 03:30 - 04:00: The Simplicity of 'Washing Your Bowl' The chapter 'The Simplicity of 'Washing Your Bowl'' emphasizes the significance of physical posture in meditation. It suggests the general posture of sitting cross-legged, hands folded in the lap, and maintaining an upright but relaxed spine, encouraging the reader to try it themselves. It describes meditation as having three focal points: body, breathing, and mind. Focusing on the body goes beyond mere posture to encompass a holistic awareness of one's physical state.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Zazen: Sitting Meditation This chapter focuses on the importance of physical health and well-being in the practice of Zazen, or sitting meditation. It emphasizes taking care of one's body by providing it with proper nutrition, adequate movement, sufficient sleep, and anything else it needs to thrive, suggesting that an unhealthy or unhappy body can be a significant distraction during meditation. Additionally, it touches on the approach to breathing in Zen, indicating that unlike some other forms of meditation or sports, Zen does not advocate for intense breathing exercises.
• 04:30 - 05:00: Focusing on the Body This chapter focuses on the significance of paying attention to one's natural breathing patterns. It suggests counting breaths and observing the duration of inhales, pauses, and exhales. This practice is recommended as a means to help the body find a soothing rhythm of breathing, calm the mind, and stay present in the moment. The chapter also highlights how emotions, especially intense ones like anger, can impact breathing.
• 05:00 - 05:30: The Importance of Breathing The chapter titled 'The Importance of Breathing' emphasizes the role of breathing in managing emotions such as joy or fear. It explains that in emotional situations, people tend to breathe quicker, rougher, and less deeply, which can exacerbate these emotions. The chapter advocates focusing on normalizing and calming one's breathing as a method to manage and diminish heavy emotions, promoting a tranquil mind. Once physical and respiratory calmness is achieved, the chapter suggests that one can then start to manage their mental state which is typically crowded with thoughts, knowledge, and memories.
• 05:30 - 06:00: Managing Emotions Through Breathing The chapter titled 'Managing Emotions Through Breathing' begins with a discussion on the ever-present concerns of daily life that occupy both the unconscious and conscious mind, including conflicts at work, family visits, social gatherings, and more. It highlights the persistent nature of worries, fears, and even joyful thoughts that occupy the mind. The chapter suggests that it's impossible to simply command the mind to stop these thoughts, indicating the need for strategies to manage them, potentially through practices like mindful breathing.
• 06:00 - 06:30: Mastering Your Mind The chapter 'Mastering Your Mind' discusses how the mind often works against itself and uses the example of trying not to think of a pink elephant to illustrate this phenomenon. It suggests that adjusting your physical position and focusing on your breathing can distract from everyday worries. Once you are well-focused on your breathing, it allows you to drift into a more stable state of mind, highlighting the power of observation and mindfulness in achieving mental clarity.
• 06:30 - 07:00: Observing Thoughts During Meditation In the chapter "Observing Thoughts During Meditation," the speaker describes the process and benefits of achieving a state of mental calmness during meditation. The mind will not be completely empty, as it's impossible, but it can stabilize and rest. The goal of meditation, as outlined, is to focus enough to observe thoughts without interaction, analogous to observing trees while walking by them.
• 07:00 - 07:30: Experience Yourself Through Meditation The chapter 'Experience Yourself Through Meditation' delves into the essence of meditation. It uses metaphorical language to explain that while thoughts are inevitable and acknowledged during meditation, they should not be dwelled upon. Citing Shunryu Suzuki, the text encourages openness to thoughts without engagement. Similarly, Ryokan Taigu's analogy of the mind to a clear mirror suggests that while the mind reflects everything, it does not hold onto these reflections, emphasizing detachment and clarity within meditation.
• 07:30 - 08:00: Recognizing Your Ignorance This chapter discusses the transformative power of meditation. Through meditation, individuals can achieve heightened self-awareness, which allows them to see and understand their true nature. It suggests that this self-awareness helps in uncovering unconscious thoughts, motivations, desires, and fears. Furthermore, it posits that by becoming intimately acquainted with oneself, a person can attain peace despite facing various personal challenges like worries, criticisms, and disappointments.
• 08:00 - 08:30: Embracing Sunyata (Nothingness) The chapter 'Embracing Sunyata (Nothingness)' focuses on the concept of finding internal strength and power by letting go of external concerns. It emphasizes the sufficiency of oneself, highlighting that one only needs their body, breath, and mind to exist and thrive uniquely. The transcript touches on the Zen belief of recognizing one's ignorance as part of spiritual growth, referencing Dogen Zenji’s perspective on Zen's true purpose.
• 08:30 - 09:00: Oppositional Thinking in Zen Buddhism The chapter discusses the concept of seeing and observing things as they are in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the importance of letting everything go its natural course. A paradoxical statement is highlighted: 'The water does not flow, the bridge does,' which challenges conventional understanding and stresses overcoming ignorance to grasp Zen teachings.
• 09:00 - 09:30: No and Nothing in Zen Buddhism The chapter "No and Nothing in Zen Buddhism" discusses the inherent limitations of human knowledge and understanding. It emphasizes that ignorance is a universal human condition and that it is impossible to completely eradicate ignorance. Zen Buddhism suggests that the rational mind is incapable of grasping the entire reality, drawing parallels with how fish cannot understand mathematics and dogs cannot study history. The chapter implies that just as there are limits to the understanding of animals, there are also limits to human comprehension.
• 09:30 - 10:00: Accepting Ignorance for Peace Zen accepts the absurd, contradictory, and unpredictable nature of reality.
• 10:00 - 10:30: The Continuum of Learning The chapter titled 'The Continuum of Learning' explores the inherent complexity and unexplainable nature of existence. It delves into the idea that everything around us, including our own bodies and lives, exists without a clear explanation, purpose, or causation. The narrative recognizes the persistent state of confusion or ignorance about the details and intricacies of our world and lives. It emphasizes the duality in everyday thinking, where things are perceived in oppositional terms. However, the chapter suggests that this perspective is limited, as the reality of existence is much more multifaceted and complex than simple binaries.
• 10:30 - 11:00: The Concept of Flow in Zen The Concept of Flow in Zen explores the Zen Buddhist perspective on binary views and their contrast to meditative experience.
• 11:00 - 11:30: Balancing Extraordinary and Ordinary The chapter "Balancing Extraordinary and Ordinary" explores the philosophical idea that identity, such as being a Buddhist, is not a binary state but rather a spectrum. It discusses how one can embody certain aspects of an identity in some ways and at various times, but not others. The main takeaway is the importance of embracing 'nothing' or the nuances of life, highlighting that a rigid identity isn't always applicable, and understanding this flexibility is key to navigating life's complexities.
• 11:30 - 12:00: Achieving Flow Through Ordinary Activities This chapter discusses the concept of achieving a state of flow through ordinary activities by embracing the complexity and multiplicity of experiences. It highlights the importance of acknowledging the multifaceted nature of experiences, recognizing that things can serve multiple purposes, be oppositional, and at times incomprehensible. The chapter emphasizes the value in admitting and accepting one's ignorance as a path to personal growth. By accepting that complete knowledge is unattainable, individuals can become more comfortable with the uncertainty and complexity of life without needing to reduce experiences to binary conclusions.
• 12:00 - 12:30: Living in the Here and Now This chapter explores the human tendency to label experiences and situations in binary terms, such as 'good' or 'bad.' It emphasizes that such labeling can lead to misunderstanding and unnecessary negativity. By failing to appreciate the full complexity of situations, individuals may draw hasty conclusions, resulting in dissatisfaction and a distorted perception of reality. The chapter encourages living in the present moment without rushing to simplistic judgments.
• 12:30 - 13:00: Conclusion: Find Happiness in the Ordinary In this concluding chapter, the author emphasizes the importance of embracing humility in the pursuit of knowledge. It encourages readers to recognize that while learning and gaining knowledge is beneficial, it is also crucial to accept that one can never know everything about a single topic, including Zen Buddhism. The chapter underscores the idea that happiness can be found in ordinary life by accepting and understanding one's limitations, rather than in the constant quest for complete understanding or mastery.

How to Love Your Ordinary Life – Philosophy of Zen Buddhism Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 Once upon a time, a new monk approached an older,  more experienced zen buddhist monk and said,   “I have just entered the monastery.  Please teach me everything you know.” The older monk asked, “Have  you eaten your rice porridge?” “Yes,” the younger monk said, “I have eaten.” The older monk replied, “Then  you better wash your bowl.” That told the younger monk all he needed to know.
• 00:30 - 01:00 We all want an extraordinary life -  and this want, this burning desire,   is what makes us miserable. Zen Buddhism  can teach you how to be happy and satisfied,   but only if you learn to appreciate the ordinary. ‘Zen’ is a term derived from the Japanese  pronunciation of the Middle Chinese word, chán,   which means ‘meditation.’ It is also a form of  Buddhism that distinguishes itself with its almost
• 01:00 - 01:30 exclusive focus on personhood and the present.  Rather than meditations on life, death, religion,   or the world, ‘Zen’ urges you to focus inwards  and on the ordinary only. Like all other forms   and practices of Buddhism, Zen is not an  ideology or belief, but rather a way of life. Buddhism was created in India but gradually  travelled through Asia throughout the   centuries - and in every country, it spawned  multiple sub-sections of Buddhism. The Zen
• 01:30 - 02:00 subsection of Buddhism was created in China,  leading to the Chinese School of Zen Buddhism   becoming the most successful school of Buddhism in  the entirety of China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. One of the ways to become a ‘Zen person’  is by ‘shikan taza’, which translates to:   ‘just sitting.’ It means to meditate without   any distractions nor egotistical interests or  concerns. How to ‘just sit’, focus on yourself,
• 02:00 - 02:30 on the present, on the ordinary, and more  - will all be discussed in this video. Zen’s focus on the little things and its  disregarding of external factors leads to   lots of insightful lessons, but the biggest  benefit is that you will realise you don’t   need the extraordinary to be happy - you  just need yourself, and your ordinary life.
• 02:30 - 03:00 Since Zen Buddhism is a practice  not created by a singular person,   there will be quotes from  multiple Zen Monks. These are:  BASO DŌITSU DŌGEN ZENJI  RYŌKAN TAIGU KŌDŌ SAWAKI  SHUNRYŪ SUZUKI , and SHŌHAKU OKUMURA  In this video we will teach you how  to start appreciating ordinary life,   and how doing so can transform you and your  life into the very best versions of themselves.
• 03:00 - 03:30 The secret is all in the simplicity of  washing your bowl after eating from it. Meditate Kodo Sawaki says “The more you  meditate, the less you need.” The very first practice that Zen Buddhism  recommends is often meditating. ‘Zazen’ in   the practice of Zen Buddhism, is the word  for ‘sitting meditation.’ Zazen embraces a
• 03:30 - 04:00 range of sitting positions, but the most  general posture is sitting crosslegged,   hands folded in your lap, and your spine upright  but relaxed. Try it out. Close your eyes. When meditating, it is helpful to  focus on three aspects, in order:  The body Breathing  Mind Focusing on the body means focusing on your  position. But it also extends beyond that:
• 04:00 - 04:30 you need to keep your body well by feeding it  right, moving it enough, granting it the sleep   it needs, and helping it achieve anything else it  might require to thrive. Your body is like a plant   you have to take good care of: An unhealthy or  unhappy body can greatly distract from meditation. Then, there is your breathing. Zen  does not believe in intense or intense   breathing exercises that some forms  of meditation or sport might use,
• 04:30 - 05:00 but rather encourages you to pay attention  to the way you normally breathe. Count the   number of breaths you take. Observe how long  you breathe in for, how long you hold it,   and how long you breathe out for. Doing so  will not only allow your body to find a pace   of breathing that suits you best, but it also  calms the mind and brings you into the moment. Emotions influence your breathing: when  feeling intense emotions - such as anger,
• 05:00 - 05:30 joy, or fear - you breathe quicker,  rougher, and less deeply than in other   situations. Focusing on your breathing  and guiding it back to its normal,   calm pace is incredibly beneficial to calm down  from heavy emotions and still your thoughts. Then, when your body and breathing are calm and  observed, and have identified your calm it is time   to adjust the mind. Your mind is filled to the  brim with thoughts, knowledge, memories, and most
• 05:30 - 06:00 of all: concerns about your daily life. That fight  you had at work, your visit to your grandfather   tomorrow, your meetup for a friend’s birthday, and  more… it’s all constantly on the forefront of your   unconscious and conscious mind. So are temporary  worries, fears, and even joys. Your mind can’t   just stop all these thoughts simply by having  you command it to do so: it would just result
• 06:00 - 06:30 in your mind fighting itself, like trying not  to think of a pink elephant… See…? You just did! Instead, the adjustment of your physical position  as well as your breathing serves as the first   distraction from your day-to-day worries. Then,  when you’re well and focused on your breathing,   you slowly start to drift. When you observe  your breath for long enough, it will stabilise,
• 06:30 - 07:00 after which you’ll calm down. Your  mind will stabilise. You’ll be at rest. Of course your mind will not be completely empty,  that’s literally impossible, but if all goes well,   you will be focused enough to observe your  thoughts without interacting with them. In other   words, the words, ideas, or images that pop up in  your mind are like the trees you pass on a walk:
• 07:00 - 07:30 you know they are there, you might acknowledge  their existence, but you don’t walk up to touch   them. They’re just decoration. As Shunryu Suzuki  says, “In zazen, leave your front door and your   back door open. Let thoughts come and go. Don't  just serve them tea.” Or, as Ryokan Taigu says:   “The mind is like a clear mirror, reflecting  everything, but not clinging to anything.”
• 07:30 - 08:00 When you experience this, you’re meditating.  You will end up truly ‘seeing’ yourself;   witnessing your own nature. You will acknowledge  and recognize what is usually unconscious,   find the source of thoughts that may have always  puzzled you, and witness your deepest desires,   motivations, and fears.Most importantly, as a  result of getting to know yourself intimately, you   will realise that you can be at peace despite your  worries, your criticisms, your disappointments,
• 08:00 - 08:30 or anything else. Your concerns fade away  in the light of the internal power and   strength that you possess. You now know  you don’t need anything but yourself,   your body to sit, your lungs to breathe, and  your mind to flow in its own, unique way. 2. Recognize Your Ignorance Dogen Zenji says, “The true purpose of Zen
• 08:30 - 09:00 is to see things as they are, to observe things  as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.” The water does not flow, the bridge does.  Now, this statement might seem like a riddle:   Everything you know about water or  bridges goes against this statement,   and you probably find it hard to even imagine what  this could look like. But this is just ignorance.
• 09:00 - 09:30 Your ignorance is a fact: all humans are ignorant  in some way and it is impossible to eliminate   all ignorance. You will never know everything,  understand yourself completely, or live a flawless   life. In fact, Zen Buddhism is of the opinion  that our reasoning minds can never understand   the totality of reality. Just like fish don’t  understand maths or dogs can’t study history,   there are many things the human brain  will not be able to reach or comprehend.
• 09:30 - 10:00 As a result, Zen embraces that reality can seem  absurd, contradictory, and unpredictable. As   Shrunryu Suzuki says, “In the practice  of Zen, we do not seek to find answers,   but to let go of our questions.”  One way to learn how to do this   is by embracing the concept of ‘sunyata.’ Sunyata means ‘nothingness’ or ‘emptiness.’
• 10:00 - 10:30 It means that everything that exists, exists  without clear explanation, purpose, or causation:   there will always be confusion or ignorance about  everything. Our bodies, existence, lives, and   that of everything around us, is all incredibly  complex. There is no way to explain everything. In our everyday lives, we think in terms of  oppositionals. Something is either there or
• 10:30 - 11:00 not there. It exists or it does not exist. While  functional in daily life, Zen Buddhism considers   these binary views to be un-meditational. When  meditating, one will experience a non-binary   world: one that is infinitely deep, complex,  and contains multitudes upon multitudes. Zen Buddhism’s non-oppositional views  are often expressed in the word ‘no’,
• 11:00 - 11:30 or more often, ‘nothing.’ To the binary  question: ‘Am I a buddhist or not?’,   the correct answer would be ‘No’ or ‘Nothing.’  This means that a Buddhist is not something   you can be or not be. It is something that  you can be in some ways and not in others,   and those things you can be  sometimes, but not always. Thus, embracing nothing means  embracing the nuance of life:
• 11:30 - 12:00 the fact that everything can be multiple things  at once, serve multiple purposes at once,   that things can be oppositional,  and things can be incomprehensible. In other words: the way to battle  your ignorance is to recognize,   accept, and admit it. By realising  that you will never know everything,   you will also learn how to be okay with  the idea of not knowing everything. It is our inability to understand our conclusions  or boil them down to a binary scenario that can
• 12:00 - 12:30 often make us miserable: when something is  not ‘good,’ we label it ‘bad.’ If the party   was not ‘fun,’ it was ‘boring.’ If your job is  not ‘fulfilling,’ it is ‘unfulfilling’ and thus   ‘bad.’ Our lack of understanding of the complete  nature of something causes us to draw quick,   inaccurate conclusions about that  something, which in turn can make   us miserable, making the world seem so  much more negative than it actually is.
• 12:30 - 13:00 Now, this is not to say that you should not seek  knowledge. Learning and reading is always good   and beneficial. Accepting your ignorance just  means acknowledging that whatever you learn,   you will never know everything about a single  topic - Even Zen Buddhism! When somebody asks   why they should practice Zen Buddhism, they would  probably not be met with an easy answer. Instead,
• 13:00 - 13:30 the most likely answer would be the  following, as said by Dogen Zenji:   “In the practice of Zen, there is no  goal. The goal is in the practice itself.” So let’s come back to this beautiful quote  from Dogen Zenji: “Water does not flow,   but the bridge flows.” In some ways, this  quote will remain incomprehensible to you.   That’s the point. However, Zenji says, this  statement is also the perfect metaphor for
• 13:30 - 14:00 Zen Buddhists in meditation. When you  meditate well, you will find that the   world around you is not the neverending flow  of chaos that it normally seems: instead,   you find that the world is just what it is, and it  is your mind that can flow and improve your life. Trying to eliminate all ignorance is an impossible  task - and trying to do it will make you
• 14:00 - 14:30 miserable. Only when you realise that you won’t  ever understand or know everything can you start   to flow and learn how to be happy with the way  things are. Life does not have to have a singular   purpose, your day does not have to be ‘good,’ and  happiness is not something that can be found and   kept all the time. These realisations will help  you come to peace with your ordinary life and
• 14:30 - 15:00 achievements just the way they are. 3. Get To Know Yourself Ryokan Taigu says “The ultimate truth is already  within you. You just have to discover it.” As reiterated, ignorance is permanent  and unavoidable - but there is still   plenty of room to learn, especially  to learn more about yourself. One of   the most important parts of Zen Buddhism  is the study of the self. Paradoxically,
• 15:00 - 15:30 Zen Buddhism recommends you do this  by thinking less about yourself. Most people spend a lot of time thinking about  who they think they are and want to be. Think   of the woman who thinks being a good mother  is the most important part of her identity   and spends all her time and energy living  up to this. Or the man who thinks he will   only be fulfilled when he is a CEO, or the  person who wants to be a famous painter,   or the student who thinks they need to keep  getting the best grades of the class. These
• 15:30 - 16:00 people all think that certain achievements  or lifestyles are essential to who they are,   but in trying to achieve these goals  they actually focus on the wrong things. External achievements are not  essential to be who you are,   and thinking so can actually result in you  getting lost. You won’t feel like a person   or complete until you’ve reached your goal -  your self-worth and identity is given away,
• 16:00 - 16:30 tied to something external. Instead,  Zen Buddhism reasons, you should look   inward - to your personality, to who you already  are, whatever your external circumstances. Zen Buddhism believes that, like everything, the  ‘self’ is nothing and bottomless. Your urges,   ideas, desires… they all come from  this pit. Zen does not believe   that you are prone to deceiving yourself;  instead, if you just listen closely to your
• 16:30 - 17:00 feelings and take the actions you feel  like taking, you will realise you’re   a unique individual. So you will get to know  yourself the best when you do ordinary things. When you meditate, when you are in the flow,  and when you do the same things everybody   else does. Because during these moments, you  will find what distinguishes you from others.   What kind of thoughts do you have? Where do  you find joy in daily life? What are your
• 17:00 - 17:30 likes and dislikes? What motivates you? You  will find that you are already a complete,   complex, and interesting person even in  the most uninteresting of circumstances. So when you learn how to observe yourself  casually, you will also learn that you don’t   need anything else to be who you want to be. It  is already inside of you. The less you think about   what you want to have and be, the more you will be  satisfied with what you already have and are.
• 17:30 - 18:00 Love The Ordinary Shunryu Suzuki says “Zen is  not some kind of excitement,   but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” Engaging in ordinary activities, as  mentioned before, is helpful for getting   to know yourself. But ‘the ordinary’ is much  more than that. According to Zen Buddhism,
• 18:00 - 18:30 our ordinary mind is simple: we are naturally  calm and focused on just what is needed. This   does not only offer insight into who  you are, but also calmness and serenity. The chaos, confusion, and alienation we  experience in reality is a byproduct of   external distractions. Yet most people feel  like their mind is a source of chaos, anxiety,   and worries. So how is it that we’ve become so  disconnected from our ordinary, natural mind?
• 18:30 - 19:00 Well, this is because we seek out and  allow ourselves to be carried away by   all forms of external distractions. In fact,  we often feel like distractions are good. We   want to flee ordinary life; everybody wants to  experience and become something extraordinary,   something special, something overwhelming.  But instead of being fulfilled by always   trying to do more and more, we  become more and more dissatisfied.
• 19:00 - 19:30 Now thats not to say that you should never  take a risk, change your job, travel, or any   of that. Buddhism highly recommends seeing more  of the world and gaining new experiences. But,   whatever it is you’re doing, never forget  or neglect the ordinary as well! You might   try out a new job during the day, but  don’t forget to cook yourself a nice   and healthy meal in the evening. And you  might go out with friends on the weekends,   but make sure to take the time to meditate, clean,  and take a walk, too. How many people’s houses are
• 19:30 - 20:00 a mess? How many people don’t like to cook for  themselves, or participate in sports, or never do   anything creatively, ever? And how many of those  complain about being tired, uninspired, or down? The ordinary represents the time and place  where your mind can rest and grow and so   it is extremely important for your energy levels  and mental health to allow your mind that space.
• 20:00 - 20:30 Everything in life should be a balance, and this  balance includes that all extraordinary things in   life should be matched with ordinary activities  to enjoy. Moreover, according to Zen Buddhism,   participating in ‘ordinary activities’ such  as cooking, cleaning, working, being creative,   being active, taking a walk, and more - they can  result in achieving ‘flow.’ Think back to that   quote ‘the water does not flow, but the bridge  does.’ Being in a sort of flow can look like this:
• 20:30 - 21:00 effortlessly flowing forward, yet not passively  nor without power. Imagine it like this: You’re acting almost automatically, but not  mindlessly. Your attention is effortlessly focused   on the activity at hand, with little-to-no inner  monologue or distractions, you feel like you’re in   control of the situation, time goes by quicker  or less-noticeably, you are neither bored nor
• 21:00 - 21:30 overwhelmed, and the activity allows you to feel  a sense of achievement. However counterintuitive   it might seem, it can be the most simple of  activities to allow you to get in the flow. Trying to cook a new recipe,  walking a new path, clean the house,   things like that are all great choices. Being  in flow is one of the most satisfactory and   inspiring experiences one can have; it is  extremely good for your mind and body. So,
• 21:30 - 22:00 everybody who wants to get the most out of their  life should, in fact, embrace the little things in   their days. Focus on the ordinary, because the  extraordinary alone will never make you happy. Live In The Here And Now In our final quote for this video, Shohaku   Okumura says “We cannot expect any ecstasy greater  than right here, right now-our everyday lives.”
• 22:00 - 22:30 One of Zen Buddhist beliefs is that time  and space are necessarily connected and   cannot be separated. Zen Buddhists don’t  say ‘live in the here and now’ because that   implies you can live here but not  now, or now but not here. Instead,   a more logical phrase would be: ‘live  in the here-now.’ Or, just: ‘Live now.’ We often feel trapped in our circumstances  and fantasise about the freedom the future
• 22:30 - 23:00 can offer. We think in the future we will  be financially comfortable, creatively free,   physically better, or anything else. Zen Buddhism  understands freedom a little differently: freedom,   according to this practice, can be understood  as ‘purposeless purpose’ or ‘actionless action.’ You are free when you are in  the flow, you get a sense of   achievement from the things you  do, and you feel satisfied with
• 23:00 - 23:30 the options you have - whether you had  the choice to do those things, or not. Freedom means being free in your mind. Therefore,  according to Zen Buddhism, freedom can only be   achieved in the here-now, and only if you set your  mind to the things you do. Many of these actions   will concern the ordinary. Your mind might not  constantly urge you to do something impressive or   groundbreaking. In fact, these urges might  be rare if not entirely absent. Most of our
• 23:30 - 24:00 desires focus on the details of everyday life;  eating a sandwich, going to bed, going for a run,   expressing yourself creatively, working hard,  working less, and any other ordinary actions. Zen monk Baso Doitsu famously said ‘the  mind as it is is the way.’ You are free   and satisfied when you allow yourself to be calm  and follow your mind. This can only be done in
• 24:00 - 24:30 the here-now. If you focus on the future, you are  not acting, and the same goes for the past. So,   if you live in the here-now, you will find  that you are the most satisfied you could be. So, in conclusion, it’s a lack of focus on  the ordinary that makes us feel dissatisfied   with life. When you learn to focus on  the simple things in life - meditation,
• 24:30 - 25:00 acceptance of ignorance, self-exploration,  and the present time - you will find   that you don’t need anything you don’t  already have. It is all inside of you. If you enjoyed this video, please make  sure to check out our full philosophies   for life playlist and for more videos to  help you find success and happiness using   beautiful philosophical wisdom, don’t forget  to subscribe. Thanks so much for watching.