The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice.
"Who are you?" said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, "I—I hardly know, sir, just at present — at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then."
"What do you mean by that?" said the Caterpillar sternly. "Explain yourself!"
"I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid, sir," said Alice, "because I’m not myself, you see."
"I don’t see," said the Caterpillar.
"I’m afraid I can’t put it more clearly," Alice replied very politely, "for I can’t understand it myself to begin with; and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing."
"It isn’t," said the Caterpillar.
"Well, perhaps you haven’t found it so yet," said Alice; "but when you have to turn into a chrysalis — you will some day, you know — and then after that into a butterfly, I should think you’ll feel it a little queer, won’t you?"
"Not a bit," said the Caterpillar.
"Well, perhaps your feelings may be different," said Alice; "all I know is, it would feel very queer to me."
"You!" said the Caterpillar contemptuously. "Who are you?"
Which brought them back again to the beginning of the conversation.
And this from that marvelous book (that you should read 100 times, at least) Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki:
We must exist right here, right now! This is the key point. You must have your own body and mind. Everything should exist in the right place, in the right way. Then there is no problem. If the microphone I use when I speak exists somewhere else, it will not serve its purpose. When we have our body and mind in order, everything else will exist in the right place, in the right way.
But usually, without being aware of it, we try to change something other than ourselves, we try to order things outside us. But it is impossible to organize things if you yourself are not in order. When you do things in the right way, at the right time, everything else will be organized. You are the "boss." When the boss is sleeping, everyone is sleeping. When the boss does something right, everyone will do everything right, and at the right time. That is the secret of Buddhism.
Finally, because he must have read both books, here is Dōgen's summary of both of these from his Gyōji (Ceaseless Practice) chapter of the Shōbōgenzō:
If we reach that stage of mind where we do not seek anything, even the Buddhas and Patriarchs will be unnecessary. A clear mind can be attained, and we will be able to see reality if we leave behind all worldly conflicts. For the first time, we will become worthy because we see the truth.
...
Concentrate only on the important things and cut off the useless, excess ones. Through such a mind, our practice will become more fruitful and will not appear to be so difficult. It will be like a flower blooming, birds chirping, a wooden horse neighing, and a cow running fast. Blue mountains outside will not influence our minds, the sounds of the hot springs will not disturb us. When we look at the mountains, we will hear the monkeys cry and see the dew drops covering the half-moon. The crane will sing in the forest and the wind will blow through the pine trees in the morning. Spring winds will bring buds to the old trees, and the autumn leaves will wither and fall in the cold forest.
Three masters. Once says change isn't confusing if you know yourself. Another says that to change anything and everything, you just have to change yourself. And my hero, Dōgen, says to shut up and concentrate — and then you'll know who you are and see the truth. As the henro keeps walking the next temple gets closer. When the rain falls, a henro's clothes get wet. When the sun shines, they dry out again.
Will the real master please stand up.
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