Chop wood and carry water

 I wrote my upcoming book ‘Already Free’ under the influence last year. There were glimpses of freedom and understanding that simply came and went. Yesterday, I felt that freedom again but later in the evening the old programs were returning. Interestingly, this time around I didn’t mind the back and forth. ‘Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water, after enlightenment, chop wood and carry water,’ the Zen saying goes and it describes this ‘no self’ state, it’s prelude as well as aftermath perfectly.

 

Our self is bound and always be. We carry this body around and naturally identify with it. The self has the desires and aversions. We can refine those with understanding and living. We also can let go of the pain bodies of the past and be mindful of all scheming concerning the future. Yet, wherever the self is present there will always be programs that are on auto-pilot. The ‘chopping wood and carrying water’ activities that life asks us to do are designed to experience these programs and help us uninstalling them. 

 

Chop wood and carry water mate when life asks you to; otherwise, enjoy the ride!