I Have No Time To Practice

A student once asked Su Bong Zen Master at a dharma talk: his friend wanted to come to the Zen center to practice but he had no time, because he had a family, he had a job, he did volunteer work and he had to attend the functions of his company. What could he do?

Su Bong Zen Master said: “A Zen-style answer means put it all down, that’s all. I am this, this, this. I want this, this, this… but I cannot this, this, this … what shall I do? That’s not necessary. Put it all down and what? Just do it. Without checking: ‘Should I be doing this or this? Which one is more important?’ Then, when you are doing something and just do it, you would have time for everything. I do my job but should I be doing something else? So your job takes twice as long."

"You all understand by your experience, without me telling you, how much time you waste wondering should I be doing this or that. But if you just do it, it would all be finished. There would be no extra baggage. That name is meticulous, meticulous and complete. So I said put it all down, that means your checking mind."

"Many of our teachers don’t have time. They are laymen just like you. They have very important positions and they have families and they must work very hard to make everything come together. But they only try and they got it. So this try mind is necessary. You cannot get anything with excuse mind.”