Practicing the true spirit of Zen (...there's no success like failure...)

 

 

In China and Japan there are many stories of teachers who attainted enlightenment suddenly like this: "Umph!" (laughs and snaps his fingers). You may think it was sudden, but actually it was the result of many years of practice of failing many times. Dogen Zenji´s famous words concerning this are, ´Hitting the mark is the result of ninety-nine failures.´The last arrow hit the mark, but only after ninety-nine failures. So failure is actually okay.

Each time you shoot, shoot with confidence. Then you are sure to hit the mark. ´Ninety-nine failures are okay, I will continue to try to hit the mark.´Each time you sit, do your best. You may think that zazen is crossing your legs for forty minutes, but the most important point is to put all your effort, physical and spiritual, into it.

 

Suzuki-roshi - Not Always So