Saddle Up: Riding the Path of Practice

Hear these inspiring talks in-person–join us for zazen Monday-Friday at 6:30A CST at One River Zen…

Eihei Dōgen, the founder of the Sōtō School—the proud tradition to which this practice center belongs—once said not to neglect the “horse work” to do the “donkey work.” In other words, don’t neglect the work of the Dharma—the work of bearing witness to suffering wherever it’s found, walking into it, and transforming it with compassionate action. The horse work is the work of becoming actualized by the circumstances of our lives, of being the medicine required to ameliorate suffering.

Don’t neglect that work for the “donkey work,” which is the work of training: sitting zazen, trudging across the city to meet with your teacher for dokusan, and having your karmic momentum challenged and broken. Yet, what Dōgen likely never imagined when reflecting on this dichotomy is the possibility that someone might choose to do neither.

Imagine someone who simply stands still, allowing indecision to cripple them and take over. In that place, there is only delusion. And if we think that by standing still, indecision will somehow lose its grip, we fall into delusion within delusion. The one thing we cannot do in this practice is to stand still. We must ride. Whether you ride the donkey or the horse, do it.

This is the only way we can honor the life we have before us, embracing it with gratitude and intention, and fully committing ourselves to the path we walk. So, whether it’s the horse or the donkey you choose to ride today, make a decision and ride. Standing still is not an option.

This isn’t a dress rehearsal, folks. Your lives will not wait. So let’s ensure we’re making a decision—today—and saddle up!