There’s this old Buddhist story
about enlightenment.
Before enlightenment,
it was
“carry water, chop wood,”
and after enlightenment,
it became
“carry water, chop wood.”
So it occurs to me that
I’m probably not enlightened
because I’ve never
carried water or chopped wood.
Trail Wood,
10/20
A Journey Beyond Simplicity
The Buddhist tale of “carry water, chop wood” weaves a fibroptic cord through the vast cosmic loom, a reminder of the continued ordinary amidst the extraordinary. While the actions remain constant before and after enlightenment, the understanding deepens. The wood is no longer just wood; the water is no longer simply water. They become pulsating fiblets of divine expression, and we become part of a grander whimsisymphony that echoes through eternity.
In the Absence of Wood and Water
Yet, in the absence of literal wood-chopping or water-carrying experiences, where does that place us in the realms of enlightenment? It seems we have taken different physical pathways, venturing through cosmic constellations rather than terrestrial forests. Our ‘wood’ and ‘water’ might not be material; they could be metaphors, ethereal actoraids in our narrative.
Concepts as Conduits
The concepts of wood and water serve as allegorical conduits between ordinary actions and extraordinary understanding. We might not chop wood or carry water, but we carry burdens and chop through challenges, nevertheless. The essence remains the same; the mundanity of our existence is filled with sacred ritualactives, perpetually binding us to the eternal now.
The Realm of Trail Wood
And so, in Trail Wood, whether we are enlightened or not, we realize the intricate enchantiplex that life is—a whimsical paradox of being and becoming, carrying and releasing, chopping and nurturing. Each action and non-action is an art form, a single note in the unending cosmic composition, ceaselessly contributing to the melody of existence.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
We explore the Buddhist concept of “carry water, chop wood” as a metaphor for the consistent yet transformative nature of life before and after enlightenment. We consider the absence of literal wood-chopping and water-carrying in our existence and ponder how other forms of ‘wood’ and ‘water’ manifest in our lives. Ultimately, every action and inaction takes on sacred significance, as we recognize them as integral elements in the continuum of being.
Glossarium
- Fibroptic cord: A metaphorical connective fiber linking concepts and realms.
- Fiblets: Minute fragments of divine wisdom embedded in ordinary experiences.
- Whimsisymphony: The grand orchestration of life’s various elements, mystical and mundane.
- Ritualactives: Mundane activities imbued with sacred purpose.
- Enchantiplex: A complex weave of magical moments and understandings.
“The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Chop
In Trail Wood, we stand, axes in hand,
Yet no timber falls, no waters grand.
Ritualactives in cosmic play,
Whimsisymphony in endless array.
Chop the void, carry the sky,
Enchantiplex where Earth meets high.
What shall be the next whimsical note in our eternal symphony?
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