Innocence

The opposite of innocence is sophistication. Our social value has equated sophistication with experienced, smart, and good with relationship. Innocence — in each of us — has been undervalued, has been nearly lost. Through Zen, we regain it.

Surrounding the Zen Master for two days reminds me of my childhood with childlike innocence. A 70-something person is that simple, pure, and unsophisticated. This further reminds me of our Zen practices…

Often times, after years of practice, we began to lose interest in worldly things. We dismiss them as no spiritual value. We take an indifferent look at the new design of Nike shoes or Coach tote bags and follow it by “So what?”. In a way this is natural, as when you find a deeper meaning of your life beyond materialistic pursuit you don’t value these ephemeral human inventions as some others do.

Many daily encounters are like that. When you make 100K per year, you don’t give a free search-and-donate program much attention. The entire year of effort (joint effort from group people) amounts to only a few hundred petty cash anyway. Imagine how a child would respond instead — “Just by searching online I can earn my sports car (model)! Wow!”

Childlike innocence. Do you remember the excitement when you received your first GI Joe? Or when you first watch Alvin and the Chipmunks, and can’t wait for the next show? It’s not about the toys, or cartoons, which we may have grown out of already. It’s the attitude, the innocence, the purity of a child in each of us.

If you have lost the child inside, can you revive it?

Yes, you can. And Zen Master Wu Jue Miao Tian has set a role model.