Reflections on Zen living

The Great Way

The Great Way is not difficult
for those who have no preferences.
When love and hate are both absent,
everything becomes clear and undisguised.
Make the smallest distinction, however,
and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart.
If you wish to see the truth,
then hold no opinions for or against anything.

These opening lines from the Xin Xin Ming, a foundational Zen text by the Third Patriarch Sengcan, capture the essence of Zen. In the Zen tradition, clarity arises not from intellectual analysis or emotional intensity, but from stillness—an inner silence free from the push and pull of likes and dislikes.

On Zen Living

Zen living is not about renouncing the world, but about engaging with it fully—without clinging. It means walking through daily life with awareness and simplicity. The beauty of Zen lies in the ordinary, in bringing attention to each moment without overlaying it with stories or expectations.

To live in a Zen way is to:

• Let go of preferences, allowing life to unfold as it is.
• Simplify your space and your thoughts, removing what’s unnecessary.
• Engage with each task fully, whether it’s washing dishes or writing a letter.
• Be present, without rushing toward the future or clinging to the past.
• Accept impermanence, and find peace in change.

Zen does not ask you to become someone new—it simply invites you to be fully yourself.