That includes you as well, so you needn’t be upset thinking that
I’ve come just to annoy you.
“Physical activity is a normal feature of people’s everyday
life. Comings and goings are part of living in this world – only
the dead cease to move about. Although as a monk I am always
self-composed, I’m not a corpse in repose: I have to inhale and
exhale, and the force of my breathing varies from one posture to
another. My breathing continues to function while I sleep, as does
my whole body; so, naturally, there will be some sounds emitted.
The same is true when I awaken and begin walking-meditation,
or perform chores. There is some sound, but always within the
bounds of moderation. When have you ever seen a monk stand-
ing frozen stiff like a corpse, never moving a muscle? Human
beings don’t behave like that.
“I try hard to walk as carefully and softly as possible, but still
you complain that I walk like a race horse. In truth, an animal like
a race horse and a virtuous monk mindfully walking meditation
could not be more different, one from the other. You should avoid
making such comparisons. Otherwise, you become a wretched
individual aiming for a berth in hell. It’s impossible for me to sat-
isfy all your unreasonable whims. If, like everyone else, you expect
to find happiness and prosperity, then consider your own faults for
awhile and stop lugging the fires of hell around in your heart all
the time. Only then will you find a way out.
“Criticizing other people’s faults, even when they really are
wrong, merely serves to increase your own irritation and put you
in a bad mood. My behavior here is in no way improper for a
monk, yet you keep carping about it constantly. If you were a
human being, you’d probably be incapable of living in normal
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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