Master Sogaku Harada died at the age of ninety-one. At his funeral service hung a piece of calligraphy written by himself:
“FOR FORTY YEARS I HAVE BEEN SELLING WATER BY THE BANK OF A RIVER. HO, HO!
MY LABOURS HAVE BEEN WHOLLY WITHOUT MERIT.”
We know that master networkers are not Zen Masters, however it could be said that this scenario is the case online where people pay for things, they themselves could have done with a lot of energy and tireless enthusiasm.
Of course the original statement can be said only by a Zen master. First he says ‘Selling water by the river’ where there is no need really. The river is flowing: you can simply jump into the river and drink your fill. The challenge is that we usually seek others to show us the way; the upside is that they have done much of the work and the downside is that people can be misled.
Of course the responsibility always lies with the individual and anyone professing to tell you otherwise only has their own axe to grind and usually on you.
The reality is that we are all doing this in one way or another, me included. But some of us may have firstly had the experience of what we are saying and expressing; secondly some may have a certain knack of how to put it in writing and thirdly and perhaps more importantly some can put it so succinctly and precisely that the reader can then act upon the written word herself.
Otherwise all written words, except perhaps poetry are a waste of time if nothing is done to test their truth, practicality or veracity: even something as relating to the Mind such as philosophy requires action of thought and if not acted upon, then it is not really Philosophy but someone playing on words to make himself or herself feel better about the state of their life or worse still, just vomiting their opinions.
What’s your opinion on selling water by the banks of the river?
Image Credit: FreeImages.com-Valerij Zhugan
Chris Borrett