This Paramita is the enlightened quality of concentration, meditation, contemplation and mindfulness. Our minds are sometimes called a “monkey mind,” since our minds have a tendency to be very distracted and restless, always moving from one thought or feeling to another. Just like a monkey who jumps from one tree to another. This Paramita means that we train our mind so we don’t jump from one thought to another. We can then focus the mind and this will bring clarity and illumination to our lives, and with this we can eliminate the misperceptions and attachments that cause our confusion and suffering. Concentration, meditation, contemplation and mindfulness are not results from only sitting in quiet meditation, we can see from the story of Cudapanthka.

The village children used to laugh and make fun of Cudapanthka because he was a simpleton, because no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to learn to read or write. But the adults knew that Cudapanthka was kind of heart, a hard worker, and was always willing to help.

Cudapanthka had an older brother who was a bright scholar. When he became of age, he entered the monastery to study. Cudapanthka begged his brother to go with him, and his brother found a way for him to go and earn his keep at the monastery by working. He would sweep the yards. He would sit, observe and listen to the monks as they talked during the meals, and he wished that he too could join them, but he always remembered how the children at school had laughed at him.

Then one day he met the Buddha who quickly realized Cudapanthka pureness of heart. He gave him a simple phrase to remember, but try as hard as he could, Cudapanthka could not remember. He told the Buddha about his failure, and the Buddha told him not to worry. The Buddha asked him to sweep the temple grounds everyday, but as he swept the floor he asked Cudapanthka to say these two lines over and over, “Sweep away the dust, sweep away the dirt.” Cudapanthka happily ran off to begin sweeping. He would say “Sweep away the dust” with each sweep out, and “Sweep away the dirt” with each sweep back.

One day, the Buddha came across Cudapanthka who was standing still thinking hard about something. “Cudapanthka where is your mind right now?” “Oh sorry, Master, I should be sweeping!” “That’s OK, please share with me your thoughts.” Cudapanthka said, “Well I was thinking that you are a wise man, and you have given me these lines about something that I know how to do. When I remember to say them, I feel at peace. Is there something I am supposed to learn from these lines?” The Buddha replied, “Cudapanthka, you have found the peace that is there for us in the present moment. Now, think also about sweeping clean the inner dust and dirt in your mind. Think about the nature of dust and dirt. They cover what is beautiful and clean, and cloud what is clear. Dust and dirt often covers things that are old and of no more use to us. Dust is also something that we can see in the air, but can not grasp, just like the thoughts of the future or the past. Think on this, and notice when your thoughts are clouding you from the present moment, causing unhappiness, and clinging to old ways of thinking.”

Cudapanthka went back to sweeping, chanting his two lines, pondering on the nature of grasping and clinging, and living in the peace of the moment. In time, other students noticed his peace and calm, and began to talk wit him. As the years passed, his inner peace and wisdom grew, and he became known as the “Broom Master.” Many came to seek his simple and profound wisdom.

Maybe some of you are thinking that this task is too easy and too simple. Maybe it is a lesson that a five-year old can do. Yes, you are correct! It is a easy and simple lesson, but it is still a lesson that is difficult for even an eighty-year old to do. Buddhist lessons maybe found every where we look. To recognize that there is a Buddhist lesson is one thing, but to actually put it into practice is another. We all know what is right and proper, and maybe we all know what we need to do to become better people. Ryokan said it quite well when he wrote the following:

Why look for truth in distant lands?

Seek it in the depths

Of your own heart.

Namu Amida Butsu

Rev. Alan Sakamoto