Japan Discovery Zen words is The best word “直心是道場 Jikishin kore dojo”
Zen is difficult. Zen word is also difficult. That’s why I interpret it as I please. I think that’s fine. Enou Zenji, Dogen Zenji, Ikkyu-san, and Ryokan-san are likely to say, “That’s fine, that’s fine. Let it be.
Today is “Jikishin kore dojo" It means “If you have an honest heart, you can become a dojo anywhere"
The dojo is in a straight heart.
Long ago, there was a monk named Kogen Doji in India. Kogen Doji lived in Vairajiri Castle, but the castle was so noisy that he couldn’t concentrate on his training. Unable to bear the noise, he was about to leave the castle in search of a quiet place. Just then, he encountered a monk walking toward the castle. Kogen Doji was suspicious and called out to the monk, wondering what the monk will be doing in this noisy castle.
“Where are you coming from?" Kogen Doji asked.
“From the dojo," the monk replied.
Kogen Doji was looking for a quiet dojo, so he asked again.
“Where is that dojo?"
“A straight heart is a dojo. Do you know?" the monk replied.
Kogen Doji immediately realized that he lacked a straight heart. The monk was the famous Yuima Koji. Yuima Koji.saw through Kogen-doji’s feelings and admonished him.
A straight heart is a mind that approaches everything with sincerity. Yuima Koji. taught that the training hall is within a straight heart. If you have a straight heart, you can practice in any environment. Saying that it’s too noisy to practice is just an excuse. If you truly have the desire to practice, there’s no need to leave the castle.
Have an honest heart
Kogen Doji’s dissatisfaction was that the castle was noisy. We who live in modern times have many dissatisfaction. I is not satisfied with the environment around him or the position he is in. This is not where he belongs. He can’t do anything here. Why is it that things are not going the way he wants them to?
But is there a place in the world where things go the way he wants them to? No matter where you are, you will always be dissatisfied. There is no place where you can be completely satisfied. If you are dissatisfied where you are now, you will surely feel dissatisfied in other places too. Modern people are not in Vairiki Castle, but at work. There is a lot of dissatisfaction there. You want to run away from this workplace. If you do that, your dissatisfaction should go away.
That’s not true. It’s not the workplace that causes dissatisfaction, but the state of your mind. If you have the same mindset, you will be dissatisfied even if you move to a new workplace. Instead of looking for a new workplace, try doing your current job with an honest heart. Think about whether you have approached your work with an honest heart. You will surely find a new way of working.
If you feel dissatisfied at work, remember the saying, “A straight heart is the dojo." 直臣是道場 If you have a straight heart, you can accomplish a lot.