Enlightened? Chop wood, carry water
An old Zen saying goes,
"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment, chop wood carry water."
Enlightened or not, one needs to carry on with his/her work. All other things remain the same. For he/she still has a body. It needs food, it needs clothes, it needs shelter. Just because one is enlightened, can one expect to be fed, clothed and housed by others?
The enlightened person never thinks that he is more than others who are not as spiritual or enlightened. He knows that all are equally important in this cosmos/leela . We all have our own individual journey to make. We are placed at different positions at a given time.
"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment, chop wood carry water."
Enlightened or not, one needs to carry on with his/her work. All other things remain the same. For he/she still has a body. It needs food, it needs clothes, it needs shelter. Just because one is enlightened, can one expect to be fed, clothed and housed by others?
The enlightened person never thinks that he is more than others who are not as spiritual or enlightened. He knows that all are equally important in this cosmos/leela . We all have our own individual journey to make. We are placed at different positions at a given time.
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