Grass Hut - 6 - Unwithering Fertility

[Byokan]

There is no word for weed in Nature's vocabulary

Hi All,

Soo many great insights here.

“When it was completed, fresh weeds appeared.” Something appears (or appears to appear). Something grows from the soil of causation. There are definitely sprouts that are better off pulled out by the roots, and other sprouts to be carefully tended; we do what needs to be done. Hopefully we choose wisely, guided by the precepts and the 8fold path and compassion. Shitou doesn’t torture himself over the weeds, or hate the weeds, or feel guilty about the weeds, or burn down the hut in despair and start over. He lives peacefully inside the hut and goes about his business, doing what needs to be done, with a heart at ease. I imagine he would pull any weeds that were a problem. His well-worn path in and out of the door would keep the weeds from growing there. He doesn’t add suffering on top of the “weed problem”.

My philosophy gets simpler and simpler as time goes by. More and more I just ask myself of each thing that arises: does this increase suffering, or decrease it? And then try to act accordingly. The answer is not always clear. All we can do is give it our best effort.

Gassho
Lisa
sat today

[Nindo]

There is no word for weed in Nature's vocabulary

True, but Nature also includes man-made changes ever since agriculture started. What would you say about invasive species - a big topic in NZ, trying to get rid of possums etc.

Gassho
Nindo
sattoday

[Risho]

My philosophy gets simpler and simpler as time goes by. More and more I just ask myself of each thing that arises: does this increase suffering, or decrease it? And then try to act accordingly. The answer is not always clear. All we can do is give it our best effort.

That's pretty damned brilliant.

Gassho,

Risho
-sattoday

[Joyo]

My philosophy gets simpler and simpler as time goes by. More and more I just ask myself of each thing that arises: does this increase suffering, or decrease it? And then try to act accordingly. The answer is not always clear. All we can do is give it our best effort.

Gassho
Lisa
sat today

Thank you, Lisa, for all that you said. But especially this.

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

[michaeljc]

True, but Nature also includes man-made changes ever since agriculture started. What would you say about invasive species - a big topic in NZ, trying to get rid of possums etc.

Gassho
Nindo
sattoday

Hi Nindo. Thanks for the response. Having not read the book I instinctively lean towards a very literal interpretation of the poem. To me it reflects the life of someone who has truly jumped from the 100 ft pole. Should S/he have an infestation of 'weeds', Possums, or even rats, S/He judges none as undesirable. S/He no doubt realised that the most invasive species in Earth's history are in fact people. This does not mean that steps were not taken to protect food from rats.

Cheers

m

Sat2day