Our topic today is ‘Samu’ … Work Practice …
… which is just Zazen working …
WhileZazen is at the heart of our Way, other aspects of traditional ZenPractice also should be introduced and encouraged. I have been meaningto do so more and more around Treeleaf. One of the most vital is thenon-doing of ‘Samu‘ (traditional work practice) …
Samu is well described in this excerpt …
Samu is manual work done with the same concentration as zazen. Allmasters of transmission, especially Master Hyakujo (720-814), haveinsisted on this. Even in his old age, Master Hyakujo worked every dayin the field with his students. One day, they hid his tools, thinkingthat their master should spare himself. Hyakujo declared: “A daywithout working, a day without eating.” And he stopped eating until hisdisciples gave him back his tools.
In zen, work has great value, because it allows us to practise the Wayin action. In the dojo and during retreats (sesshins), zazen isfollowed by samu, which is when we do the chores to ensure the smoothfunctioning of communal life. Samu also means putting our efforts atthe service of the community, without expecting anything in return. French version of the texts from Zen, by Bovay, Kaltenbach and De Smedt, Albin Michel Publishing, 1993
Yes,Samu is just Zazen in action. It may not look like seated meditation,but it is to be done from the same state of mental balance. Couple thiswith an attitude of goalless, non-striving, ‘just doing’, also ahallmark of Zazen. As well, work is to be performed mindfully, as the only action in and of the whole universe : One engaged in Samu should devote to it all care and attention, never wishing for or thinking of anything else.
Theresult is a job performed diligently and patiently and with certaingoals, but with no thought of anything to achieve (of course, not acontradiction in Zen). It may be a continuing job that just needs to bedone without end, but we do it with all care moment by moment by momentfor the time we have.
Iencourage those Treeleaf folks with the time to give a few hours eachweek to volunteer activities in their community (please consult withme, if you wish, about an appropriate choice of work). However, thosewith heavy family or employment duties can make that part of that their’Samu’, approaching it with the mindset described above.
(remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;
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