Zen Teaching’s Job

Buddhism’s teaching is actually quite simple, but the consciousness of human beings is very complicated; it is always checking and holding on to something. Zen teaching’s job is to take this complicated mind and make it simple, simple, simple, until finally, there’s nothing. All clean. Nothing.

If you are nothing, then a new idea will appear; that new idea is the truth. When your mind is clear, then everything you hear, see, smell, taste or touch is the truth. That is a very important point.

A long time ago in Korea, three famous masters from different traditions were talking about the path.

The Confucian master said, “See clear, hear clear—then everything becomes clear.”

The Taoist master said, “It is clear like space. Keep your mind clear like space.”

Finally, the Zen Master said, “Moment to moment, do it.”

The three masters had different styles of speech, but the meaning is the same. Confucianism means keeping the correct situation, correct function and correct relationship at all times. Never think about the past, present or future. Only this moment: correct situation, correct function and correct relationship. This is Confucianism.

Taoism means keeping a mind that is clear like space. Don’t make anything: don’t make mind, don’t make body, don’t make “I,” don’t make “you.” Everything is clear like space. Then reflective action is possible.

The Zen Master’s speech means: don’t make anything, moment to moment. Just do it. Just do it means don’t make past, don’t make present, don’t make future, don’t make sky or earth, don’t make anything. Moment to moment, only one thing: “What are you doing now?”

This is very important. When you are doing something, just do it, okay? When you eat, just eat. When you sit, just sit. When you are working, just work. When you are teaching, just teach. When you listen, just listen. Moment to moment, just do it! Moment to moment just do it means correct situation, correct function and correct relationship.

~Zen Master Seung Sahn