Comfort Zone Koan

Over the past few days, the words "Comfort zone" have been coming up in repetitive way. Sunday I had an experience well outside my comfort zone and when I had gotten alone in my car, I found myself screaming Muuuuuuuuuu, Muuuuuuuuu, Muuuuuuuuuu! I was angry, because I was faced with a Rubik's cube, unable to see a clear and satisfactory "solution." I've never solved one in my entire life. This particular situation felt the same and I felt bummed out about it.

Yesterday, I saw one of my friends who was working with their own, "Comfort zone koan." They'd been telling me what a planner they are, to the extent of having very detailed life plans about three to four years out. They told me how where the planning had once brought them comfort, now felt like it was making them crazy. They stated having plans for their plans. It was like "can't live with them and cannot live without them. They did a stunning thing, questioning the nature of this "Comfort zone." My friend took all the written plans to the fireplace and burned them. They literally combusted and exploded their plans. What a brave thing to do...

Without the old labels, details and definitions, a gateless barrier cracked opened. Will they fully walk through... cross the threshold... I have no idea, but what a magnificent quantum jump.

Sitting with the the notion of the comfort zone, it's clearly one coin, with two sides. Being in the so-called comfort zone can feel relaxed... calm... frictionless... routine... safe... It's like being in a nice warm bubble bath.

Outside the comfort zone can feel uncertain... discombobulated... awkward... anxiety provoking... angry... frustrating... friction and grinding..., because we don't feel like the smartest kid in class or we're on our "own" territory. It's like an icy cold shower and we cannot turn off the water.

Though I want and enjoy being in the comfort zone, I can get dull... inattentive... unappreciative... lazy... In that state, when change comes, it's almost accidental, small and frequently incremental. To move forward, the hypnotic sleep state or distracted mind has to stop. Attentiveness and alertness has to be restored.

Outside the comfort zone, despite the awkward feeling, I tend to make leaps. Moments and circumstances tend to be decisive, clear cut changes in direction, because if for no other reason, their no way to be cool or smooth. It's like you have to drop all the crap and just jump to the other side. All the mental games have been removed.

This brings up an important point. When I'm with my teacher directly, through email, on the phone or using skype, Genjo Marinello Osho, frequently has me outside my comfort zone. It's like he's saying, "Yes, we've come a long way to get to the base of Mount Rainer, but lets not get comfortable here. Let's begin our climb... Mount Rainer is calling... let's keep going... it's only noon... the day... your life is not over yet. Come on." Other times when I'm feeling the urge to push forward, he blocks the path, stopping me and says, "Oh Seiho... look at this flower... let's sit here and appreciate This moment, This place, This breath... no place to go now."

Zen is not designed to be "hip, slick and consumer cool," as some have made it out to be. Zen is unifying heart-mind. Working with our "Comfort zone koan," is deeply valuable and important process for our life. We have some much to learn from it. I feel certain that when we apply ourselves with one-pointed undivided stabilized mind, we will genuinely resolve this particular Rubik's cube of our life. I have confidence. Please share with us and let us know how you are doing with it.

Yours In Zen,

Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
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