Zen Is Right Now: More Teaching Stories and Anecdotes of Shunryu Suzuki

As we begin this journey into the heart of Zen, it is essential to understand that Zen is fundamentally about the present moment—the 'now' that each of us inhabits uniquely and fully. This immediacy is not a concept but an experience, a living reality that defies the usual boundaries of thought and language. In a quiet zendo, the stillness of sitting meditation invites us to drop all our past worries and future plans, to rest simply in what is. This 'now' is not a fleeting point in time but a profound gateway to awakening.

Imagine yourself sitting by a gently flowing stream in a serene garden, the water moving continuously yet always present. This stream is like your mind—always in motion, yet accessible moment by moment if you simply observe. When asked 'What now?' the response is clear: 'Now is now.' This simple statement holds the key to Zen practice. It reminds us that our practice is not preparation for some future event but the living reality of each breath and each step.

Zen is often described paradoxically as both something to talk about and not to talk about. This seeming contradiction points to the limits of words. Language can hint at the truth but cannot contain it. Words are like fingers pointing at the moon; they are not the moon itself. To truly grasp Zen, one must go beyond intellectual discussion and enter into direct experience. This is why sitting in zazen is so vital—it is the practice of being fully present without distraction or judgment.

There is a story of a student approaching the teacher and asking, 'What now?' The teacher replies, 'Don’t ask me. Now is now. You have your now. I have my now.' This exchange encapsulates the essence of Zen: each person’s moment is complete and beyond question and answer. It teaches us to trust our own experience rather than seeking external validation or answers.

In this way, Zen invites us to awaken to the immediacy of life, to embrace the present fully without clinging to ideas of past or future. It is a practice of presence that transforms ordinary moments into gateways of insight and peace.

As we move forward, we will explore how this immediacy shapes the practice of zazen and the cultivation of the 'big mind,' a state of expansive awareness that transcends the small ego-centered mind.