Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘Calmness and activity are not different; they are the same thing. It is just a different interpretation of one fact because in our activity there is harmony. Where there is harmony there is calmness. And this harmony makes the quality of the being; but the quality of the being is nothing but the systematic speedy activity of the being. Because there is some harmony in the speedy activity there is some quality.

When we sit we feel very calm and serene, but actually we don’t know what kind of activity is going on inside our being. But because there is complete harmony in our physical systematic activity we feel calmness in it. So for us there is no need to be bothered by calmness or activity, stillness or movement. Movement is nothing but the quality of the being, and the quality of our calm, steady, serene sitting is the quality of our immense activity. When you do something you fix your mind on the activity with some confidence so the quality of your state of mind is the activity itself. So when you are concentrated on the quality of your being you are prepared for the activity.’ (from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind)