The Zazen Master Speaks

Fresh winter morning and the zazen master receives at his ancestral table of the Rothschild St. sidewalk coffee, next to the Bank.

- Teacher, what is zazen?
- I dont know.
- Would studying Zazen add to my life?
- I dont know.
- Then why people study Zazen?
- I dont know.
- I walk through life feeling inferior. Worse, I know I am inferior because I am incompetent in everything.
- We all are. Thingies change all the time, and the moment you start getting it you find yourself facing a different thingie.
- How could I feel well with myself being incompetent?
- You dont draw your sense of yourself from being something. All somethings are impermanent. But you walk and learn.
- Shall I feel better walking and learning?
- I dont know.
- I'll still be an incompetent, a walking and learning incompetent.
- Yes. A non-stop walking and learning whatever. You dont care.
- But I care!
- In Zazen nothing matters. You dont care. I dont care. Now go on walking and learning.

The Master has a strong accent. His Zazen sounds like "djemm" - "confiture" in Hungarian. He couldnt care less. Pic.: Danny Rogoff z"l