The secret of Zen practice lies in not giving up, which allows the winds of reality to erode both the obvious and hidden layers of our self centered lives. How long does it take a pine tree to mature, a mountain to rise, a star to be born in a nebulae? Impatience and frustration can bedevil practice if we don't appreciate that spiritual awakening and the maturation of our character do not happen within a chosen time frame. Our aspiring nature itself is a central problem, and practice readily reveals the shortcomings of grabbing at the world as if we know what we are about.
Perseverance means continually returning to your body in the present moment, to the way things are. Although our first association to the idea of perseverance may be one of toughness, staunchness, or fortitude, it can actually be a gentle reminder to follow in the footsteps of the ancients. It is just getting up when the bell rings, an act of setting aside our choice making activity for what life presents at the moment. Perhaps perseverance is to preserve ourselves, to keep ourselves whole and intact, to maintain a daily posture of humility, joy, and vitality. As the I Ching often says, 'Perseverance furthers'.
It is perseverance that keeps our faith and doubt in balance, that allows us to step across the great ocean of being on the stone bridge of time. Sticking with practice is staying close to our breath and body and heart and mind, to the gracious gifts the dawn offers, to the welcoming warm hands of family, teachers, and friends, and to the intimations of a mysterious and beautiful world that beckons us to awaken in this lifetime.
How can I step
through a stone wall?
Touching the surface
is half way through!
Perseverance
