Zazen is the Dharma Gate of ease and joy.
It is not effortful. We entrust our body and mind to zazen and let everything be.
Whether the mind is turbulent or peaceful we hold it like the earth under the ocean holds the weight of the water, maintaining it so it will not seep into nothingness. We hold it like we would hold a sleeping baby’s head, whatever the baby is dreaming.
If you listen carefully when the bell is rung you hear two noises.
The first, very brief, is a dull sound, the striker hitting the bell.
The second is the bell’s full expression.
If we thought the striking required to continue until it matched our idea of perfection, the expression of the bell would never be realised.
We need to understand perfection is a chimera.
Because all expression is a miracle.