I have a simple message for you today. I suppose they’re generally simple, but this one maybe especially so. I’ve shared my affinity in previous posts for the storytelling tradition of Zen and the way that short anecdotes, whether historically true or apocryphal, can communicate a message with more direct impact and more stickiness for your memory than any intellectual explanation of concepts. Here’s my paraphrasing of one such story that has popped into my mind a few times recently:

Bankei, a Zen teacher,
was giving a talk to a gathering of students
interested in learning from his wisdom.

In the midst of the talk,
a follower of another teacher arrived
and expressed their doubts
about Bankei’s authority
in comparison to their own teacher.

The individual interrupted Bankei
and began speaking proudly
of the impressive feats
of their own teacher…

”The founder of our sect
can stand on one side of the river,
hold a brush in his hand,
and write calligraphy
on a scroll on the other side
of the river.
He has many miraculous powers.”

He then asked Bankei,
”Can you perform such miracles?”

Bankei gently replied,
”These are impressive tricks,
but that is not the manner of Zen.
My miracle is that
when I feel hungry I eat,
and when I feel thirsty I drink.”

I do believe that it is truly a miracle that our bodies simply know when we are hungry and when we are thirsty, when we are tired and need sleep, when we need to go to the bathroom, when we are ready to move. These functions become easily taken for granted, but it may be a profound answer to the problem of life simply to respond accurately and reflexively to your basic humanness, to drink when you are thirsty and eat when you are hungry, no additional impressive tricks needed.

My miracle
is that

when I’m hungry I eat,

when I’m thirsty I drink,

&

when I need to
go to the bathroom

I go to the bathroom.

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