AUTHENTICITY

AUTHENTICITY

The book Haiku Mind, by Patricia Donegan, presents a verse by Shusin Kateo that reads as follows:

        I kill an ant . . .

        And realize my three children

        Were watching.

        So what does that have anything to do with anything? Or in particular, with Zen?

        I will wait for your response.

        The author’s answer was that the haiku reflects the courage it takes to be honest with oneself. That it is a statement that reminds us to live moment to moment, and not cause harm to other beings.

        In not causing harm is to encourage peace within ourselves and within other beings.

        This can come about only if we are honest.

        To quote Patricia Donegan,

“Starting this very moment with whatever is happening and seeing it clearly . . . . no matter how embarrassing, how painful, how sad, no matter what. This is the human journey.”

        The human journey includes being honest with ourselves. To owning up to our mistakes without trying to sugar coat them or cover them up.

        It has to do with the quality of being authentic. With ourselves as well as with others.

        That is what Shakespeare meant when he wrote:

 “This above all: to thine own self be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.”