Truth and Knowledge

In Buddhism, knowledge is regarded as an obstacle to our understanding, like a block of ice that obstructs water from flowing. It is said that if we take one thing to be truth and to cling to it, even if truth itself comes in person and knocks at our door we won't open it. For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.

- Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

When we are humble everyone is a potential best friend and our generosity naturally grows. We want to do things, to help out. A wonderful Zen tradition is called "inji-gyo," or secret good deeds. The virtue gained through performing a secret good deed is believed to be immense. So, in a monastery, if one watched closely, you might see a monk secretly mending another's robes or taking down someone's laundry and folding it before the rain comes. In our temple I often find chocolate spontaneously appearing in my mailbox, or a beautiful poem, unsigned. This year the Easter Bunny visited our Sunday service, leaving chocolate eggs under everyone's cushions, even the one prepared for a visiting Zen master. Sometimes the bathrooms are miraculously cleaned overnight. And flowers spontaneously appear in a neighbor's yard, thanks to the children in the temple. Secret good deeds. They are so much fun. In their doing you can't help but smile.

- Geri Larkin, Tap Dancing in Zen