Zen Parable

So I am reading Amanda Palmers book, The Art of Asking and I was struck by something I read on page 41. She was describing her friend Anthony and how he would tell her stories about his life and his Zen masters and their stories. She wrote down one of her faves.

A farmer is sitting on his porch in a chair, hanging out.

A friend walks up to the porch to say hello, and hears an awful yelping, squealing sound coming from inside the house.

"What's that terrifyin' sound?" asks the friend.

"It's my dog," said the farmer. "He's sittin' on a nail."

"Why doesn't he just sit up and get off it?" asks the friend.

The farmer deliberates on this and replies:

"Doesn't hurt enough yet."

That parable hit me hard. I sat there staring at that page for a long time. Why? Because it's true. How many times have we stayed with a hurt longer than we should have? Someone, something, some situation and stayed mired there on that nail yelping, crying and squealing in pain, but we never get off the nail to relieve that pain? What are we expecting? The nail to move or change? Ourselves to change? Why do we sit there until it hurts us enough to do something about it. Why? Why the fuck do we do that?

Everyone around us, like the farmers friend, can see what is happening, try to help, see the illogical outcomes of staying on that nail. Why can't we? Why do we sit there in misery until the hurt gets too much for us to bear. Where the fuck is the logic in that????

Why do WE keep doing that to ourselves? Why do WE do it over and over?

Perhaps it is the human response for self destruction? We are our own worst enemies after all. How many times have we fucked ourselves over with our destructive habits and patterns? No one to blame but ourselves.

Perhaps, that nail is what we are used to? And when we have had enough we will get off that nail. We are so programmed to the pain and the nail that it seems the most natural and usual outcome. We ride it out until we are done physically and mentally.

Are we masochists? Do we enjoy that pain? Perhaps.

Are we just illogical by nature? Wanting to believe that we can transform something so absurd into the rational? Perhaps.

I mean look at it. It is a highly illogical act to stay on that nail and yet we all do it or have done it. How are we to expect something so illogical to turn itself upside down and be logical? It can't!!!! It won't, no matter how hard we try to force it or how hard we wish it.

I do know, that for me it has taken a long time to recognize that nail. I am waking up slowly. I try to avoid the nails and if I sit on one I don't wait anymore until I have had enough. Hurt and pain is still hurt and pain. I don't need to wait anymore for it to consume me or for someone to tell me that it is wrong. One prick of that nail and I am up. I don't need any more warnings. I don't need any more wallowing in the pain. I SIT UP AND GET OFF.

My respect for myself and for what I deserve has grown so that I know what I want and need. My well being is more important than sitting on that nail until I have had enough. I don't need to waste my time trying to force the illogic into logic. A round object will never fit into a square hole and vice versa.

No pain is worth enduring until you have had enough. No pain is worth the time wasted just sitting there on that nail. SIT THE FUCK UP. GET THE FUCK OFF THAT NAIL.

You will be amazed how much better you feel, how easier life flows and how beautiful the world looks if you do.

DO IT