The Meaning of Zen | Chopping Wood and Carrying Water

[@stanislovestanislive]

That is probably one of the best stoic videos I've ever seen. No unnecessary words, no wasting my time, and so much to think about with some great quotes. ❤ Chop wood and carry water is my new motto.

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Wow thank you! I have seen too many videos that meander and don’t get to the point, so I hoped to make something that would deliver the ideas economically. I make these videos for myself first and foremost, to help me with my life, so I want them to be simple and accessible. I’m glad you liked it! :)

[@montgomerymaynard8431]

I’ve been shamelessly binge watching your videos and I just want to say that you are one of the few people who can take huge ideas in philosophy and make them easy to relate too and to understand . Keep making these videos they’re supreme💜

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Thank you for your kind words. :)

[@ReynaSingh]

Great channel. Keep it up

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Thanks so much! :)

[@Infamous-K]

Thanks for such a thoughtful video. All hail the Algorithm

[@Northman1963]

Enlightenment and mindfullness are similar if not identical. I do a lot of wood chopping and find it a pleasant and meditative activity, like oil painting and hiking, etc. Just stumbled on your videos by accident and I'm enjoying them very much.

[@StanleyBetts2001]

I’m glad. :)

[@celsolmon]

I’m a bodybuilder and was in 2 minds when I first started awakening that bodybuilding is useless what’s the point so on and so forth but this really taught me it’s not and staying in the present while lifting weights while posing in the gym is ok and perfectly fine once ur in the ‘ present moment “ of course

[@larabetts285]

Thanks stanley. Ill try this tomorrow when revising. I always think how boring it is and giving in and not getting it done. ❤

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Just focus on one thing at a time, because that’s all you can do.

[@celsolmon]

How can we enjoy reaching our goals I have a big competition coming up and a lot of time and effort is going into it physically and mentally how can I stay in the present while enjoy reaching this competition many thanks man

[@sandwichgroper]

Thanks for the videos.

[@StanleyBetts2001]

No problem. Glad you like them. :)

[@MonicaGunderson]

I got here today, cause I have cards with enlightening quotes. The card I pulled today, "Chop wood, drink vodka". Lol

[@JM-zk7jt]

Well done!!

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Thanks J M. :)

[@MrTetsukobu]

There is another story that goes with this one. The disciple asks the Zen master, how can I quiet my mind? The master replied, show me how do you pull up yourself grabbing your own belt. Another story, Hui'ko came to Bodhidharma to ask instruction on how to calm his mind. Bodhidharma said, show me your mind. Hui'ko said I cannot find it, Bodhidharma replied, there I have pacified your mind.

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Thanks for sharing these zen stories.

[@dean1174]

My style of content 💪 great job

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@rodrigocarvalho6426]

It is so difficult to focus our attention on the present moment. I feel like we don´t allow ourselves to live right now, for we don´t feel it is worthy enough.

[@StanleyBetts2001]

It is the most underrated part of our lives. It IS our life.

[@ellenh278]

Great stuff. New sub. Now off to carry water. 💚

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Thanks for the subscription. :)

[@maxbrass8725]

Yeah with multitasking I see what you're saying about directing all attention to the one thing. More and more it seems truer and better to do it like that. Except I guess I still have habits, in fact I usually plan to do something else if I'm gonna eat And unfortunately I can even be seen talking with my mouth full 😅

[@BernadetteKalubi-ni6fi]

Profound

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Thank you. :)

[@LateBloomerMedia]

Thinking out loud here.. Maybe I'm wrong but how I see this is how I often thought that once I was enlightened then that was all I needed. Basically, it felt as if once you achieve enlightenment then that meant you won at life kinda and would no longer need to do such a thing as chop wood or carry water. Because, I mean, you're enlightened after all 😅 It was definitely a critical thinking error on my part. And that's just it. If you're enlightened you shouldn't be having those critical thinking errors. So, you chop wood and carry water thinking "once I achieve enlightenment I will no longer have to chop this wood or carry this water" But then after enlightenment you realize that without chopping wood or carrying water, life is rather meaningless and unsatisfying because it can be those simple chores that bring us life and sustain it and create gratification and allow us to truly appreciate and be grateful for the fact that we have wood to chop and water to carry.

[@feelthewyrd]

i would doubt that zen is merely about concentrating on one task at a time, nor mere contentment with your lot.... but then again. perhaps it is that ordinary to many people. A kind of social conformity that props up the likes of a caste system for example. But the promise written into the enigma of the word itself is that ‘Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water’ .... hints at something more than chopping and carrying efficiently. Something mystical .... .... that arises between chopping wood and carrying water. Even while chopping wood and carrying water. ..... rather than the final result of a deliberately efficient and contented way of chopping and carrying. ie Enlightenment is mysteriously more than contentment and efficiency of menial tasks. Enlightenment wont change the body and social necessity to chop and carry. That is clearly stated in this zen proverb. But enlightenment is nevertheless a great mystery that words cannot convey. ‘Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water’ ....there are no words here, except the reference to choppng and carrying. Enlightenment is beyond words, and cannot stop the need to chop, carry and speak. I think this is the true meaning of ‘Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water’ . It is a reference, by words, to that which is a great revelation beyond words. But it wont stop the need to chop, carry and speak. ‘Before enlightenment, speak and listen. After enlightenment, speak and listen’ ...... enlightenment is not a sarcastic word, but it is ironic. The irony is that 'enlightenment' is beyond words. Whereas wood and water, chopping and carrying are not beyond words. Enlightenment can be a great revelation .... not a reduction to mere contentment, concentration and stoicism. There is a real promise here .... but it is beyond words, and it wont free you of chopping, carrying and speaking. It is a great revelation in relation to self and other ....while beyond the words that define self and other. And that is what we so easily miss. That words define self and other, and are used by self and other relentlessly and necessarily, to try and define everything else. Those that chop wood and carry water will return from such a revelation. The great revelation is not an escape..... but meditation can bring some relief to those that chop wood and carry water. However, they cannot correctly account for this relief. It is beyond their words. Words like stoicism, acceptance, concentration etc etc.

[@kitevaldres]

One mind

[@EddieMurphy-hr7fg]

Good stuff. Eddie Murphy approves. Now do it harder for winning or money or fame or something.

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Could you explain the Eddie Murphy link?

[@perlefisker]

3:20 I'll suggest anyone to quickly drop this fraud, and go directly to the source, Epictetus. You do yourself a great favour reading his Enchiridion, and skipping Aurelius plagiarized Meditations.

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Didn’t Aurelius write for himself? What was wrong with repeating what he was taught in order to have a good life?

[@GetMeThere1]

Stoicism is not equivalent to nonduality. The "proverb" is actually used as a koan, and the Zen solution would involve the realization that precisely NOTHING changes after enlightenment (teaching that enlightenment is about "transcending" the mind and not "improving" the mind). This isn't quite the explanation you have given.

[@StanleyBetts2001]

I explained that it is only your inner realm that changes after enlightenment.

[@josualnew1512]

The gemini 2 ad is the clumsiest artificial old simpleton I've seen in years

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Sorry I don’t understand…

[@maxbrass8725]

Video is interesting but not very Zen ... 😅

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Could you explain?

[@maxbrass8725]

Hmmm I think that to identify an idea and then describe it to the level of detail in this video... It's very straightforward and thorough. In Zen teaching however there's sort of an idea that if you explain a joke it would ruin the humor of it. This is why Zen teachers act as though they have nothing to teach, and guard their words like a treasure. In essence what I'm saying is a video essay's goals run counter to my understanding of Zen principle: to realize something without saying it.

[@StanleyBetts2001]

Thanks for your clarification.

[@happyhumann]

Looks like all your videos are from Einzelganger channel

[@StanleyBetts2001]

He was definitely an inspiration. Hopefully I’m not just a copy.

[@ahalse1]

You are not just a copy:)

[@happyhumann]

@@ahalse1 😁😁