In the film Zen and in the last chapter of his Shobogenzo, Dogen, the founder of Soto Zen, articulates eight ways to apply Buddhist teachings to your concrete, everyday life, so that you may live as a virtuous, enlightened being. In this article, I explain and interpret these eight means to living better and more simply. All eight means relate to and reinforce one another. Here is a short list of the eight means:
1. Regulate your desires
2. Be satisfied
3. Be tranquil
4. Be diligent
5. Practice mindfulness
6. Meditate
7. Practice wisdom
8. Avoid pointless talk
Now, let us examine each point in detail.
1. Regulate your desires
If you have unlimited desires, if you want everything in life, then you will inevitably be dissatisfied.
For example, suppose you want to become a billionaire with a net worth of $50 billion. You want to marry a swimsuit model. You want to own several huge mansions, several private jets, and 10 exotic sports cars: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, etc. Further, you want to travel the world regularly in luxury, first-class style: five-star hotels, five-star restaurants, etc. Altogether, these desires comprise your ultimate dream lifestyle, and you are very motivated to achieve this lifestyle.
Now, if you do not achieve this ultimate lifestyle, then you will be dissatisfied. For example, if you accumulate a net worth only of $5 million; if you marry an intelligent, attractive woman with good character but who is not a swimsuit model; if you own only one large house, no private jets, and only one exotic sports car; if you travel the world regularly but in an economical manner; then you will be dissatisfied. After all, you had much higher standards for your ultimate lifestyle, you wanted it really badly, and you fell short.
However, if you do achieve this ultimate lifestyle and if you have the psychology of a typical modern consumer, then you will likely still be dissatisfied (in some respects), because you will likely compare yourself to others who have more than you do and you will want more and more. You will never have enough. Yes, you may have a net worth of $50 billion, but so-and-so has a net worth of $75 billion. Yes, you may be married to a swimsuit model, but so-and-so is married to a younger, hotter swimsuit model. Yes, you may have several huge mansions, several private jets, and 10 exotic sports cars, but so-and-so has more/nicer/better mansions, private jets, or exotic sports cars than you do. No matter who you are, there is always someone richer, smarter, bigger, stronger, faster, hotter, more accomplished, or more propertied than you are. No one can be number one in all respects all the time. Bill Gates may currently be the wealthiest person in the world, but he is not number one in all respects, and he will eventually pass away and no longer be the wealthiest man in the world.
Thus, even if you do achieve your ultimate dream lifestyle, you will still be dissatisfied to the extent that you want more and more, that you compare yourself to others, and that you seek validation or happiness externally.
Therefore, you should regulate and limit your desires. In short, be smart, prudent, and selective about your desires. For example, it is smart and prudent to desire sufficient food, clothing, housing, education, safety, peace, tranquility, and health. It is not so smart or prudent to desire 20 huge mansions, 20 private jets, 20 exotic sports cars, a harem of 20 models, or copious amounts of 20 illicit drugs.
Finally, you should realize that happiness or satisfaction comes from within and thus seek happiness or validation internally, not externally.
2. Be satisfied
This directly relates to regulating and limiting your desires. In support of my previous argument about the ultimate dream lifestyle, the Buddha asserts, “Those who do not know satisfaction, even when living in a heavenly place [e.g. several huge mansions], are still not satisfied. Those who do not know satisfaction, even if rich, are poor. People who know satisfaction, even if poor, are rich” (Warner, p. 238). Warner elaborates, “[Knowing] satisfaction is the simplest way to get rich quick because everything you have becomes everything you want” (p. 238).
Thus, you should be satisfied with and demonstrate gratitude for everything that you do have: food, clothing, shelter, health, safety, family, friends, etc. Whenever someone does something for you, you should demonstrate gratitude by sincerely saying, “Thank you,” and perhaps even, “I appreciate it.” This alone will improve your relationships and quality of life.
Furthermore, you should be satisfied with the present moment in the sense of fully accepting it. Of course, you can strive to improve yourself and set and pursue goals, but you must accept where you currently are—right here, right now. You can never escape the present moment.
3. Be tranquil
Your mind should be like a lucid, tranquil body of water. Always stay cool, calm, and composed. In particular, always stay extremely calm, which is especially important when you’re stressed, when you’re facing adversity, or when your ego-self starts to rear its ugly head or terrorize you.
In addition, avoid any emotional ups and downs. Stay stoic and (somewhat) emotionally detached. A lucid, tranquil body of water does not get jubilant, hysterical, furious, or depressed.
Lastly, if you are introverted or somewhat hermetic or if you enjoy solitude, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. In many respects, it is easier to be tranquil when you are alone. Just consider the monks in the film Into Great Silence or the hermits in Amongst White Clouds.
4. Be diligent
Set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound) goals and work deliberately and consistently toward them. Persist and overcome adversity. Improve, progress, and grow.
You should also be diligent in applying these eight principles (regulating your desires, being satisfied, being tranquil, meditating, etc.) to your daily life.
5. Practice mindfulness
Always pay attention to what you’re doing and thinking. Focus 100% on the present moment: right here, right now. Cultivate absolute presence in your daily life.
For example, when meditating, just meditate. When cooking, just cook. When cleaning, just clean. When lifting weights, just lift weights. When running, just run. When sleeping, just sleep.
6. Meditate
Meditating daily will increase your focus, discipline, awareness, presence, and mindfulness. When you meditate, you are observing your thoughts in the present moment and learning how to disassociate yourself from them and focus on your breathing. Thus, meditation in itself is an exercise in focus, discipline, awareness, presence, and mindfulness. So, if you exercise your skills in focus, discipline, etc. for 20 minutes per day, then these skills will improve significantly over time.
Here are zazen instructions.
7. Practice wisdom
You can cultivate wisdom by applying these eight principles and the Buddha’s teachings to your daily life. This includes practicing compassion and showing gratitude.
8. Avoid pointless talk
Avoid idle talk and gossip. Although this principle is subjective and a matter of degrees, you should ideally communicate in a direct, concise manner about practical, relevant matters, so that you use your time optimally. But if you and your audience want to discuss points in greater detail and if you both have the time, then elaborate as needed. For example, if you want to spend three hours discussing subject X with someone who is really interested in it and if you both have the time, then go ahead.
Conclusion
Overall, I think these eight principles capture the essence of Zen Buddhism and serve as an excellent guide to living better and more simply. If you regulate your desires; if you are satisfied, tranquil, and diligent; if you meditate and practice mindfulness and wisdom; if you avoid pointless talk; then you will live a more peaceful, fulfilling life with much less stress and anxiety. In this sense, Zen is extremely practical.
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Works Cited:
Dogen. Shobogenzo: The Treasure House of the Eye of the True Teaching. Trans. Rev. Hubert Nearman. Mount Shasta, CA: Shasta Abbey Press, 2007. PDF file.
Warner, Brad. Sit Down and Shut Up: Punk Rock Commentaries on Buddha, God, Truth, Sex, Death, and Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye. Novato, CA: New World Library, 2007. Print.
Zen. Dir. Banmei Takahashi. Perf. Kantarou Nakamura, Yuki Uchida, Ryushin Tei, and Jun Murakami. Festival Media, 2011. DVD.
Last revised 6/10/2017
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