Revoked

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Via Daily Dharma: You Have to Get Wet

You Have to Get Wet

Answering ‘What is Zen?’ is like answering ‘What is the ocean?’ To understand the ocean, you have to submerge yourself. You have to get wet.

Les Kaye, “You Have to Get Wet”

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My Time in Robes
By Bradley Donaldson

A former monastic reflects on their time as a fully ordained bhikkhu and why they eventually made the decision to return to lay life.

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RIGHT ACTION
Reflecting Upon Social Action

However the seed is planted, in that way the fruit is gathered. Good things come from doing good deeds, bad things come from doing bad deeds. (SN 11.10) What is the purpose of a mirror? For the purpose of reflection. So too social action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61)

One reflects thus: “Others may speak in unhealthy ways; I shall refrain from speaking in unhealthy ways.” (MN 8) One lives with companions in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, blending like milk and water, viewing each other with kindly eyes. One practices thus: “I maintain verbal acts of lovingkindness toward my companions both openly and privately.” (MN 31)

Reflection

How we speak to one another has a big impact on how well we get along with one another. We evoke from others the same emotions we express to them. If you say something with annoyance, you will provoke annoyance. If you say something kind, you will bring out the kindness of others. This is how human interactions work: however the seed is planted, the fruit is gathered.

Daily Practice

One important way of practicing in daily life is bringing as much lovingkindness as possible to everything you do, especially in the realm of verbal action. Make a point today of speaking kindly to the people you interact with. You’ll find it comes easily if you can manage to view the other person “with kindly eyes.” Find something good in other people to focus upon and allow your speech to flow from the emotion of friendliness.

Tomorrow: Abstaining from Intoxication
One week from today: Reflecting upon Bodily Action

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Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.