UJI Part Twelve | Unmistakable Uji
“Even at a stage where it would seem that you have taken a false step, this condition will be a state of ‘being’. Further, should you leave the matter at this, your condition will still constitute a persistence of ‘a time being’, which will include both a before and an after to this ‘having taken a false step’. Dealing with thoughts and things while they persist, like a fish darting about through the water, is indeed what ‘being just for the time being’ is about. So, do not be upset over what is not, and do not be pressured by what is.”
Mistakes and missteps are not to be viewed as failures or deviations from the path but as integral parts of our being-time, our uji. Even when it feels like we have taken a false step, this, too, is uji. This recognition transforms our relationship with perceived errors, allowing us to work with them as opportunities for growth and understanding rather than consigning them to a dark corner of unconscious shame and regret.
Mistakes are a complete expression of their moment. We may wonder about our efforts to avoid these mistakes. Is Dogen saying that whatever we do is acceptable because it fully expresses being time? Of course not. Neglecting continuous practice under the guise that even neglect is part of practice is a misunderstanding. He likens this in other writings to a poor person throwing away his inheritance. True continuous practice should not be neglected, even for a moment.
Our vows bring us back to our situation as a practice-opportunity, not an intellectual abstract rumination of things-as-we-wish-they-were. The truth is: we make mistakes. They may not embody our awakened intentions - but the karmic ripples are no less real. Even (or especially) these moments are an opportunity to fully manifest uji, but we must show up and practice! There is nowhere to hide.
To embody this teaching, we need to not be upset over what is not and not to be pressured by what is. This means letting go of our attachments to how things should be and releasing the pressure to conform to our expectations. Instead, we are invited to embrace the present moment fully, with all its imperfections and uncertainties. This acceptance allows us to live more freely and authentically, responding to life as it unfolds rather than being constrained by our judgments and fears.
Dogen also cautions against two mistakes in practice: first, thinking that anything we do is acceptable simply because it is an expression of being-time, and second, trying to force what arises into our fixed categories of being or non-being. The first mistake allows us to use uji as an excuse for neglect, while the second attempts to control and solidify what is continually arising. Both lead us away from the true essence of uji.
To embrace uji is to live with an open heart and mind, accepting each moment as it comes and trusting things as they are. By doing so, we can move through life with greater ease and grace, finding wisdom and beauty in every step, whether we perceive it as true or false.
As we continue our study of Uji, let us remember that every moment is a manifestation of our being-time. Each false step is integral to our path and becomes another place where we are called to practice, opening the possibility of more profound understanding and compassion. By embracing this truth, we can live more fully and authentically, realizing the profound unity of our being with the whole universe.
