Gateless Gate Case 41: Bodhidharma and Peace of Mind
Difficulties always arise in life, regardless of who are or where we find ourselves. Whether it's a stubbed toe, a late package, or a mental obsession we just can't shake, the way we respond to adversity determines our whole experience. To enter Zen training-to enter our lives-is to practice what cannot be practiced, to bear the unbearable. In order to meet adversity, we have to be wholly ourselves and find our own way of practicing in troubled times. This doesn't mean solving our problems all at once: it can be a subtle and steady determination to meet every moment with complete awareness and an open heart, thereby transforming trouble into splendor.