The Zen of pulling weeds.

A sure hand, with a firm grip, slipping smoothly through leaf and stem, pulling, uprooting the weeds that creep and climb up the lily stem. Thistles grow, sprouting from seeds dropped by finches, overhead. Bindweed twists and chokes the opium poppies while locust tree sprouts appear everywhere that they are unwanted. Forming, shaping, and guiding little plots of Earth to their aesthetic potential. Or simply, pulling weeds. A meditation I give myself to, letting my hands guide me along the dirt. A perfect focus on the given moment.

There is an old Zen proverb that says "Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."

This is to say that one needs not live in a temple, practicing Zazen for 8 hours a day to live a zen life. For indeed, there is not a Zen life, there is only a Zen moment. What makes that moment Zen is being mindful and aware, giving yourself entirely to that moment. In a calm embrace of all around you, breathing in life. This can be done in something as simple as chopping wood or carrying water or in my case, pulling weeds. It can occur on a run, during a swim, painting a picture, or simply sitting and breathing, anything can be Zen as long as you are aware of it. The sixth patriarch of Chan Buddhism (that would eventually evolve into Zen) said that "Buddhahood (Zen) is like the moon behind the clouds. Even if it is not visible, you know that it is there and you will see it when the clouds (distraction or illusion) blow away."

So to be Zen, all you have to do is take whatever it is that you are doing and give yourself to it. You were already chopping wood and carrying water. After you are mindful, in the moment and aware, you are still chopping wood and carrying water. It is just the same and it is totally different. It is Zen.