Wash the Rice

There's a new documentary called "How to Cook Your Life" about Zen priest and chef, Edward Espe Brown.  The advice given to him by his Zen teacher, Suzuki Roshi, was, "When you wash the rice, wash the rice."  That is, "...don't go through the motions, don't have stuff on your mind."

As an experiment, I'm trying it right now.   I'm writing my blog.  I'm not going over the things to do before I get on a plane for DC.  I'm not worrying about what the new pup is chewing on.  I'm not planning Christmas lists.  I'm not wondering how I can get the house cleaned before the cleaning ladies arrive.  I'm not concerned about not having completely moved into the house after almost a year.  No.  I'm writing the blog.

The most interesting part of this experiment is that it leaves little room for:

worry

analysis

concern

regret

anxiety

criticism  

If you're washing the rice, the whole experience is rice and water and your hands and, I guess, some method of drainage.  If you find yourself beyond those few items, you're not washing the rice (at least not in a Zen way).  

Not really being in the mood for rice, I tried my "washing the rice" experiment by washing the dishes instead, but there's something about running water that makes my mind wander.  So, I'm forced to practice on non-aqueous tasks.  Like blogging.   

[I haven't seen the movie yet, but it got a decent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I like the quote from the review in Variety: "Tasteful in more ways than one, mischievous and charming docu How to Cook Your Life serves up a heapin' helping of Zen."  And I'm not sure I can resist any movie that has "a heapin' helping of Zen."]