Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘In the Zen monastery there are many rules. When you eat pickles don’t make noise. How can you eat pickles without making noise you ask? It’s impossible, a crazy rule. According to your head, it is a crazy rule. But when you eat a pickle, you have to eat it in vivid samadhi. At that time you can taste the close relationship between you and the pickle. At that time to not make a noise eating the pickle is to be compassionate to the pickle. To the pickle, to your bowl, to the chopsticks, to the plums, to everything you encounter, moment after moment. At that time you can learn what is the dharma which is transmitted from Buddha to you. At that time you can feel tranquillity in life.’ (from Wind Bell)