Eugene, I've read this book and enjoyed it also. I believed from the moment I read that passage that it did indeed mean to do everything with a full commitment. Use all of YOU. It may seem too simple at first, but to me it really can be a complex thing, depending on what I am "burning". This post is just my own, personal interpretation of that passage, Eugene. Hope I did not confuse you more! Peace, Blossom~--- In [email protected], "Eugene" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I am the one that posted this question and I think some explanation is > helpful. The text I meant is the following: > > "In order not to leave any traces, when you do something, you should > do it with your whole body and mind; you should be concentrated on > what you do. You should do it completely, like a good bonfire. You > should not be a smoky fire. You should burn yourself completely. If > you do not burn yourself completely, a trace of yourself will be left > in what you do. You will have something remaining which is not > completely burned out. Zen activity is activity which is completely > burned out, with nothing remaining but ashes. This is the goal of our > practice. That is what Dogen meant when he said, "Ashes do not come > back to firewood." Ash is ash. Ash should be completely ash. The > firewood should be firewood. When this kind of activity takes place, > one activity covers everything." > > I can understand one does everything with full commitment... Is that > what is meant? It seems more complex than that.. > > > --- In [email protected], "Eugene" <eusvr@> wrote: > > > > I am reading the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, of Shunryu Suzuki - > > an excellent book. It goes into depths while being understandable. > > > > However, there is a concept in it I don't understand. I would like > to > > have some explanation... > > > > It is about going fully into an activity, leaving nothing of > yourself > > behind. So you are like ash afterwards... who has read this book and > > can explain? > > > > thanks! > > >
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