A dharma brother who is walking the Pacific Crest Trail sent along a haiku-ish verse that I think is a wonderful koan . . .
Of all the virtues
only one opens all doors —
what is this?
What are the virtues referred to here? Do you follow the way of being guided by generosity, discipline, patience, using your energies for benefit, meditating regularly in the wholeness of the moment and living the wisdom that flows from all of these? . . . How can we separate one from the other?
Only one opens all doors. What is this?
Only one? When we live in accord and practice these virtues, looking to them to guide our actions and responses to the world, they are not separable, just as, in essence, the world is not separable.
Opening the door of each moment is our practice. What is this? Right now. Are you paying attention with genuine interest, openness and a body-informed inquiry? What is this sound? What is this taste? What is this emotion? What is this impulse? What is this thought? Exploring this — moment by moment — we, too, walk the path.
Mushin
