Chopping Wood And Carrying Water - Story, Meaning And The Zen Way Of Living!

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"Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water" is a popular Zen saying. Chopping wood and carrying water is symbolic of the Zen way of living. What does it connote? Let's look into its story, meaning and the Zen way of living.

Chopping wood and Carrying water story

Once a young boy became a monk. As is natural for spiritual aspirants, he wanted to learn big things and get enlightened. However, in the monastery he was asked to chop wood for the monks' fire and carry water for the ablutions and the kitchen. Though he attended prayers and regularly meditated, he felt the teaching given to him was scant.

One day the monk was asked to take tea to the abbot, who found him unhappy. When inquired, the young monk replied that he too wished to become great like the abbot someday by learning new things, but all that he was asked to do was to chop wood and carry water.

The abbot said to the monk that when he was a monk like him, he too thought like him and wanted to learn great things and move forward. He garnered wisdom from all the scrolls, met with kings and gave council and became the abbot. He concluded that he ultimately realised that everything was finally chopping wood and carrying water and the difference lies in how mindful one is while discharging his tasks. It's not about what one does, but how he does it is what matters.

As per the popular version a novice once asked his master,

'What does one do before enlightenment?'
'Chop wood. Carry water,' replied the master.
The novice further asked, 'What then does one do after enlightenment?'
'Chop wood. Carry water!'

Layman Pang, a Buddhist monk in the Zen tradition, stated

"My daily activities are not unusual,
I'm just naturally in harmony with them.
Grasping nothing, discarding nothing.
In every place there's no hindrance, no conflict.
My supernatural power and marvellous activity:
Drawing water and chopping wood."

Chopping wood and carrying water meaning

Chopping wood and carrying water is only symbolic. Its literal meaning ought not to be taken. It's a term used to refer to any profession, which one pursues or tasks, which one undertakes in daily life. One can take up any task or any profession. It is the attitude that matters. What is it to chop wood and carry water before and after enlightenment? To understand this one needs to know what enlightenment is. In Zen, enlightenment is the inherent nature in every human being and not a special status achieved by a few. One just needs to realise his true nature as simple awareness to be enlightened. Hence enlightenment is not a destination to arrive in future. It is here and now to realise. So life goes on even after enlightenment.

Enlightenment doesn't change anything around one. It's one's attitude and perception towards life that changes with enlightenment. It's like a train journey where one falls asleep and starts dreaming. When he wakes up, nothing around him changes, but leaves him awakened to the real journey.

After enlightenment one will still have to engage in activities as before. One will still continue with one's tasks but one is not burdened by them. His tasks don't bind him anymore. He thus becomes the master of his mind.

Chopping wood and carrying water in the Zen way

Here are some simple steps to chop wood and carry water the Zen Way.

• Mindfulness: Be mindful in whatever you are doing, however ordinary or mundane it may be, for a fragmented mind is scattered and cannot achieve perfection in tasks. Be in the moment and bring the mind back to the present when it strays to the past or the future. "The best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment," says Thich Nhat Hanh.
• Contentment: Contentment helps anchor the mind in the present moment without straying into the future.
• Don't be a slave to the mind: Maintain present awareness to not be a slave of the mind. Then whatever task one engages in will be taken up more cheerfully rather than thinking it to be a burden. Meditation helps in doing so.
• Practise Simplicity: A simple mind is wrinkle free! Be simple in your approach to life.

This will help enhance chopping wood and carrying water in life.