Wash Dishes

A Novice monk approached the teacher and said, "Please teach me Buddhism."

The teacher asked, "Have you eaten?"

The novice replied, "Yes."

The teacher said, "Then wash the dishes."

This is a famous dialogue.

After eating, it is only natural to wash the dishes and clean up. This way of naturalness is the Buddhist life. When help is needed, go and help naturally withouy sense of obligation or duty

Giver and given are forgotten. Clouds appear in the sky according to causes and conditions, and then move on as they should. Water flows from high to low. Man is part of nature. Why do we not live naturally?

When our ego appears, there is so much artificiality. Yes, life is something hard, sometimes hard, very hard. But life must be lived. Things can not be escaped. We get sick, we become helpless. But, that is life. Face reality squarely, don't be defeated, don't be arrogant. When it is hard, endure. Help others and be helped. This is a natural way.

And when we do things, however small, do the 100 percent. We do not make mistakes in the big things of life. We make mistakes in the little things. Life, after all, is the little things put together. So each day should be done 100 percent.

A Buddhist life is a life of no regret. To wash your dishes after you've eaten is such a common and natural thing. Buddhism is not something special. Live like the wind, live like the water that flows. Do everything sincerely and completely. Your life will become perfect. Perfect without any comparison. For there is no general criterion, as such.

Each one lives his own true life. This is what the teacher meant when he said, "After eating wash your dishes."