Do the right thing...

From an inscription on a Painting of a Woodcutter...

"Chop and chop away

at grief and sorrow

with each hard whack;

hidden away among the flowers and crimson leaves,

forgetting about the world's petty troubles."

- Yamaoka Tesshu, (1836-1888)

Staying busy and trying to be productive is a good way to occupy the mind and to maintain a relatively positive outlook. Sometimes it is hard with so much to do, with so little time and being limited in that I can give 100% effort to doing only one task at a time. Also, it can seem like I'm trying to avoid doing some things that need to get done by justifying doing others.

"By doing things

that should not be done

and not doing things

that should be done

the arrogant and unmindful

will only deepen their corruption."

"Those who earnestly practice

mindfulness will be aware

of what they are doing.

They will not do things

that should not be done.

Instead they will do

what needs doing.

As a result

their corruptions will dissipate."

- The Dhammapada (c.500 BC)

But as the old saying goes, "Many raindrops break stone." So I hope that each task that I perform is one that I should be doing, and that they will eventually have enough cumulative effect to crack the mountain of granite that represents my aspirations.

The Unfettered Mind...

"Be true to the thought of the moment and avoid distraction. Other than continuing to exert yourself, enter into nothing else, but go to the extent of living single thought by single thought"
-The Hagakure, c. 1707

At this point in my life I'm often finding myself relying on this philosophy of disciplining my mind in order to just make it through another day.

At times I feel overwhelmed with obligations, responsibilites, and expectations. But I try to keep bringing my mind back into the present moment, to concentrate on the task at hand, to not get caught in the endless loop of "what if..." but rather to choose to think "what can I do right now to make at least some progress..." Then I try to act, to keep breathing, to keep my head up and my eyes forward, to stay focused and keep on putting one foot infront of the other.

"The way of the pen and the sword are in accord"

"I began writing on the tenth day of the tenth month, at night, at the hour of the tiger, with the aim of expressing the true idea of my school, letting my mind reflect in the mirror of the way of heaven and the way of Kannon."
- Musashi, Go Rin No Sho, 1645