Question:

The Ch’an Master Bo Yuan says, ‘To be busy physically but not mentally.’ I’ve been extremely busy recently, and worries start creeping in. May I know how one could do as the Ch’an Master advises?

Answer:

It’s not easy to do as advised. But we should at least be able to remain unruffled and collected even when busy. For example, being heaped with well–meaning advice and criticism after tolling round the clock for days on end to prepare for the Buddha Day Exhibition. Anger and negative emotions will manifest if we are not mindful. Do reflect and remind ourselves that ‘anger destroys’. Instead of uncalled for advice and criticism, we should translate metta into action - shower loving concern and encouragement, but not otherwise. In this way, the latent strength in us will propel and sustain us even if we have to burn midnight oil.

You mentioned that you become unsettled when busy. This shows that you have improved. You are already aware of it and you have also remembered the Ch’an Master’s advice. You are now able to remain calm even when criticized by family members; neither will you be a proverbial nemesis … harboring the grudge and constantly looking for an opportunity to take revenge over the next few days.

The next step is to try to note your arising thoughts - be aware and nip the imminent troubles in the bud before they are manifested.

As for being ‘busy physically and not mentally’, is to be constantly aware of one’s thoughts and actions - it’s the pre- and not post-awareness of troubling thoughts. No matter how tied–up one may be, there remains a still pool in him/her - the heart remains tranquil, not a trace of anger is to be found. Such is the mark of a truly freed. Falling short of this, it’ll do us a world of good to pull up our socks.