Nothingness
Collections from the monastery
Nothingness
The Monastery of Nothingness’s original definitions of the term ‘Nothingness’ were far removed from Nihilism or cold cynicism, and remain so. The term was originally envisioned as one part ‘mushin’ and one part being a bit more humble in life. While that’s changed somewhat, here’s one of the ways it was originally presented:
Nothingness is not about being lazy, although it’s always important to save yourself some time to relax and hang out. It’s more like this: whenever you are doing something in your life, anything really, make sure you have some Nothingness sprinkled in — you know, to kind of offset all the I’m-really-Somethingness going on in the world.
Too lazy to be ambitious, I let the world take care of itself. Ten days’ worth of rice in my bag; a bundle of twigs by the fireplace. Why chatter about delusion and enlightenment? Listening to the night rain on my roof, I sit comfortably, with both legs stretched out. — Ryōkan
