The cypress in the courtyard

Our minds are hungry, seeking more knowledge, more information, more understanding. We want to know more (more than you!), we want to know why and we definitely don't want to be left wondering. But a joyful life is not about knowing, it is about experiencing this moment as it is. Of course, this involves a good deal of wondering and of sitting comfortably with not knowing. This is why, in Zen, they don't give you much information, they simply tell you to sit and experience this moment directly. This direct experience is the basis of today's class, which begins with another dialogue: "A monk asks Zen master Chao Chou: What was Bodhidharma's intention in coming to China? Chao Chou: Look at the cypress in the courtyard. This may seem an odd answer, but listen on and you will see why this is the best advice a meditator could receive!