Messy Mortals

In a book called, "Notes to Myself," at the very end, Hugh Prather writes, "Ideas are straight, but the world is round, and a messy mortal is my friend. Come walk with me in the mud." This is really perfect.

I've had the opportunity to carefully and clearly reflect on the "muddy moments" that are experienced by we "messy mortals." We all have messy moments... difficult circumstances. The only thing that may differ is perhaps the type, the intensity and those who are involved.

Within these muddy moments, there is always the potential that we can lose confidence in ourselves... in others that we care about... in our purpose... Muddy moments can give the feeling and appearance of discontinuity... gaps... distance... aloneness. Muddiness can distort seeing and feeling. If it's an extraordinarily muddy moment in our life, there can be a great deal of fear which can paralyze us, in many different ways.

Recently in conversations with my teacher, Genjo Marinello Osho, he has said something that I've come back to several times. "Sometimes when we are in a deep fog it is hard to know how to proceed. We just have to accept that we are Buddha in a fog, slow down and wait for the fog to lift. If we hurry things we will only make things worse." This is perfect too.

We can be in a muddy, difficult moment or experience, but that does not mean that we cease to be Buddha. Mud can be dissolved... washed away... the fog can lift... evaporate. With effort and time, confidence within ourselves to be so and do so can be restored.

Back in November, I made a post on "The Secret of Buddhism." The secret on that day was, "When we fall down, we get back up." Today the secret of Zen is, "When mud appears, the world is not ruined."

We are at any moment capable of being messy mortals, as we are placed in muddy moments. Despite this fact, I'm seeing and feeling that we don't have to lose confidence and faith in ourselves and our efforts. After all we are Buddha, mud or not, fog or not. It's perhaps best of we express this confidence, in how we live our life. Today, this is the focus of my mind.

Your's In Zen,

Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Comments

[Anonymous]

"When mud appears, the world is not ruined."

Good reminder! Thank you very much.

[Marguerite Manteau-Rao]

Mud also has therapeutic value, as in mud baths, etc. May you see that part of the mud as well, not just its blinding quality . . . :)

With much metta.