Daily Dharma: The practice like glasses

Today's Daily Dharma from Tricycle:

The practice like glasses

Even before we practice it, enlightenment is there. But usually we understand the practice of zazen and enlightenment as two different things: here is practice, like a pair of glasses, and when we use the practice, like putting the glasses on, we see enlightenment. This is the wrong understanding. The glasses themselves are enlightenment, and to put them on is also enlightenment. So whatever you do, or even though you do not do anything, enlightenment is there, always. This is Bodhidharma's understanding of enlightenment.

- Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind; from Everyday Mind, a Tricycle book edited by Jean Smith.

Tags: Daily Dharma, The practice like glasses, Tricycle, Buddhism, enlightenment, Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind Beginner's Mind