Our weekly chanting of the Genjo Koan has highlighted for us the ways that we can approach our daily experience as koan. Living with the spirit of inquiry, of not knowing, we may notice more minutely the details of whatever’s going on.
The second of the Ten Grave Precepts is I undertake not to steal, but to refrain from taking that which is not given. This ethical admonition seems pretty straightforward. Living into the koan nature of the precept can deepen our understanding of it by asking ourselves several questions. What is offered to me during my daily activities? Is there anything that I hadn’t seen when approaching these with my usual distracted attention, my same-old-same-old mind? What do I offer? How do I offer? Is there a feeling unique to offering rather than giving? Am I aware when I’m taking? What is the difference between receiving and taking? What feels like stealing?
Working this way with the precept led to changing how we refer to the precept ceremony. We used to call it “taking the precepts”. Now we call it “receiving the precepts”. Can you feel the distinction? What else can you notice this week living with this precept as a koan?
