Practice in Uncertain Times —Placing Things in the Universe

Nothing stays the same

Lately, the world has felt noisy and unsettled. So many events keep stirring our hearts and minds.

Precisely in times like these, I want to remember the importance of returning to practice.

This world is impermanent. Not even for a single moment does anything remain exactly the same.

We, too, are part of the universe.

Even the cells in our bodies are constantly being replaced, moving as expressions of the universe’s continuous change.

Originally, there is no real space herefor our personal “wants” or “preferences” to enter.

The Root of Suffering: The Desire to Control

And yet, we humans have consciousness.

From global events such as international conflictsto the small, personal issues of everyday life,

We try to stop the flow of scenery and rewrite reality to our own convenience.

The moment the wish, “I want this to go my way,” arises, we feel temporary relief if things go as planned. Yes — only temporary. (Because problems keep coming, one after another.)

But the moment things do not go our way, friction with reality inevitably arises.

That friction is the true source of suffering and confusion.

Meeting Discomfort

Of course, in my own daily life, discomfort and emotional pain still arise.

Before, I tried hard to fix them.

Now, I simply notice:

“…Ah, I want this to go my way right now.”

That noticing is enough.

After that, I let the discomfort, attachment, and judgmentbe left alone.I place them in the universe.

What is happening hereis taking one step back from my own thoughts,

and allowing things to be exactly as they are —flowing with the movement of the universe itself.

“Sitting” Means Doing Nothing

This is the essence of sitting zen (zazen).

“Sitting” means doing nothing. “Zen” simply means pointing directly.

On the cushion, we place this body — a part of the universe’s movement — and simply let it be there.

The wish to be saved, the frustration of “Nothing is changing,”

All of it is left as part of the scenery of the universe.

No matter how much we struggle, we have always been inside the universe from the beginning. There is no way to step outside of it.

Softening Judgments of Good and Bad

Try setting aside, just for a moment, your inner standards of “how things should be.”

Do not label the present moment as good or bad. Simply let it be as it is.

Whether there is a “me” or not, include even that and leave it as part of impermanent change.

When we step away from our own thoughtsand entrust ourselves to the movement of the universe,

what appears is not the comfort created by the human mind.

It is peace beyond thought.

It is the unshakable, absolute peace that belongs to the universe itself.

When the grip of “making things go my way” loosens, we realize that this peace does not come from somewhere else.

It has already been here, all along.

So now, what will you place in the universe?