Dharma Talk

How to Be Satisfied

by Gerry Shishin Wick, Roshi

In his commentary on "Knowing How to Be Satisfied," Dogen Zenji says, "Knowing how much to take of those things that one already has is called knowing how to be satisfied." The Buddha says "You should contemplate knowing how to be satisfied if you wish to be liberated from suffering. The dharma of knowing how to be satisfied is the realm of riches, comfort, peace and tranquillity. Those who know how to be satisfied are happy and comfortable even when sleeping on the ground. Those who do not know how to be satisfied are not satisfied even when dwelling in a heavenly palace. Those who do not know how to be satisfied are poor even though they are wealthy. While those who know how to be satisfied are wealthy even though they have little. Those who do not know how to be satisfied and are always tempted by the five desires are consoled by those who know how to be satisfied. This is called 'Knowing How to Be Satisfied.'"

This knowing how to be satisfied is complementary to "Having Few Desires." Not craving after things that we don't have is "having few desires" and "knowing how to be satisfied" is appreciating what we do have. If you are looking for something that isn't already present, we won't know how to be satisfied. All we have to do is open ourselves up to those things that we already have. And even then, you need to "know how much to take of those things that one already has."

Usually we can't distinguish between our ideas about reality and reality itself. We have a thought that we want something, and having that thought we think it's reality. Then we chase it. It can be a material object or a relationship or another thought or something else. We chase it until we become obsessed with it.

We think we don't like somebody and then we take that to be reality. We let that possess us until eventually we are filled with anger and hatred. There are even more subtle levels where we get stuck with our thoughts. What we think to be reality is just our thoughts about reality. What we think we need in order to be satisfied is more ideas.

There is nothing wrong with ideas and thoughts but just see them for what they are. They are part of the scenery of our life. They arise and they pass away. It's like looking out the window of a train and noticing "Here comes another thought."

Einstein talking about physics expressed it very nicely. He says "as far as the laws of physics refer to reality, they are uncertain. As far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality." As far as your thoughts refer to reality, they are uncertain, and as far as you are fixed on your thoughts, they do not refer to reality. We can apply it to the self too. As far as my ideas of who I am refer to reality, they are uncertain and as far as they are certain, they don't refer to reality. Maintaining no fixed position, how do you refer to reality?

On one occasion a man who practiced zen asked Master Huihei, "It is said that the mind is identical with the Buddha, but which of these is really the Buddha?" In other words, what is the Buddha? And the Master answered, "What do you suppose is not the Buddha? Show it to me." Of course, the student couldn't answer.

Dogen Zenji said, "If you think one day lacks sufficient virtue, then even a life of eighty years is not enough for you." Each moment a perfect, wonderful opportunity to practice zen, to practice reality, to practice knowing how to be satisfied. Each place, each moment is nirvana. However, we can make it to be hell instead. Master Mumon said in his Precautions on Zen, "Each moment know how to be satisfied. Create no separation. When you are doing zazen, do zazen." If you are working, just work. Don't think it should be something else. Also, don't fall into "no matter zen" either, with its attitude that everything is the same. We have to see each moment for what it is.

Once a young monk called Kyosho came to Zen Master Gensha to study under him. Kyosho said, "I have come over here seeking the truth, where can I start to get into zen?" At this Gensha the Master said, "Kyosho, can you hear the murmuring of the mountain stream?" "Yes, Master. I can hear it." "Enter zen from there," was the Master's answer. Sometime later a lay zen student Kyo told the story to Master Ayn of Singon and asked, "Because Kyosho answered he could hear the murmuring of the mountain stream when Gensha asked him if he could hear it, Gensha could instruct him to 'Enter zen from there'. If however Kyosho had said he could not hear it, how would Master Gensha have instructed him?" Ayn suddenly called out, "Mister Kyo!" Kyo answered, "Yes, Master." At this the Master said, "Enter zen from there!"

That's the secret of our zen practice, wherever you are, enter zen from there. Doesn't matter whether you are encouraged or discouraged or feel as though your meditation is excellent or whether you feel it is horrible. Whether you are happy or you are sad or you are angry or you are blissful it doesn't matter. Just enter zen from there, that's the reality. That's what's so. That's how to be satisfied.