About samu
My Angobuddy asked me what I meant by samu. She said that she just could not pick up more reading right now to find out. I also noticed some questions around this in the sign up thread for Ango, so I thought I'd put together this thread.
It's pretty simple - samu is work practice.
We do it on retreats (see below), it is done in monasteries, and in Ango we try to approach our daily work (paid and unpaid) with the same spirit.
Here is the Wikipedia definition of samu:
Here are Jundo's instructions how and what to do for samu during our annual retreat. You can adapt these for Ango, especially points 4 and 5.
Samu can happen right in our workplace as well. See below for what Risho says about it - wonderful. (I work in software development as well, but still far away from his attitude.)
The important thing is to drop expectations and goals. Do the work for the work's sake.
Gassho,
Nindo
It's pretty simple - samu is work practice.
We do it on retreats (see below), it is done in monasteries, and in Ango we try to approach our daily work (paid and unpaid) with the same spirit.
Here is the Wikipedia definition of samu:
Samu (作務 ) refers to physical work that is done with mindfulness as a simple, practical and spiritual practice. Samu might include activities such as cleaning, cooking, gardening, or chopping wood. Samu is a way to bring mindfulness into everyday life as well as to get things done. Samu is popular in Zen monasteries, particularly as a means of maintaining the monastery and as practicing mindfulness.
There will be work periods. This ‘Mindful Work’ is to be done as if it is the only action to be done, or which can be done, in the world at that moment. The mind is to drop all resistance, likes or dislikes about the work. It is to be done ‘mindfully’, meaning that we think only about the work we are doing at that moment when doing the work at that moment. Because many of us are sitting at home, the following four options are suggested for the Samu work period (you may choose):
1- Clean your bathroom tile, include the toilet inside and outside, with an old toothbrush. Do not think ‘pleasant’ ‘unpleasant’ ‘clean’ ‘dirty’. (This is a highly recommended Practice. Folks with military experience will already know it well).
2- Gather several dozen coins and scrub them with an old toothbrush. Do it with care and no complaint. Do not think the action ‘a waste of time’, and treat each coin as if it the most important object in life. After completing all coins, begin again for the remainder of the period.
3- If you have a garden, garden work is fine. Work requiring care and attention, such as hand-cutting bushes, is recommended. Rake leaves or shovel snow.
4- Wash some windows in your house, outside and inside. While cleaning dirt, do not think ‘clean’ or ‘dirty’. Work hard, and carefully, while knowing that the job can never be perfectly done.
5- For parents, this is an excellent opportunity for child care. However, more than usual, attempt to maintain silence, inner stillness and a sense of non-achievement.
As our Retreat will be in whole or part recorded, one may move (or even add) ‘Samu’ periods on the schedule as needed for home duties. It is all ‘Zazen’ if approached as such.
1- Clean your bathroom tile, include the toilet inside and outside, with an old toothbrush. Do not think ‘pleasant’ ‘unpleasant’ ‘clean’ ‘dirty’. (This is a highly recommended Practice. Folks with military experience will already know it well).
2- Gather several dozen coins and scrub them with an old toothbrush. Do it with care and no complaint. Do not think the action ‘a waste of time’, and treat each coin as if it the most important object in life. After completing all coins, begin again for the remainder of the period.
3- If you have a garden, garden work is fine. Work requiring care and attention, such as hand-cutting bushes, is recommended. Rake leaves or shovel snow.
4- Wash some windows in your house, outside and inside. While cleaning dirt, do not think ‘clean’ or ‘dirty’. Work hard, and carefully, while knowing that the job can never be perfectly done.
5- For parents, this is an excellent opportunity for child care. However, more than usual, attempt to maintain silence, inner stillness and a sense of non-achievement.
As our Retreat will be in whole or part recorded, one may move (or even add) ‘Samu’ periods on the schedule as needed for home duties. It is all ‘Zazen’ if approached as such.
The important thing is to drop expectations and goals. Do the work for the work's sake.
Gassho,
Nindo
, nandi
Comment