A guy checks into a Zen monastery. He’s convinced his stay will result in enlightenment.  He asks the head monk, “How long will it take for me to become enlightened?”  The monk responds, “About 10 years.” “10 years?” asks the guy. “Why 10 years?” The monk replies, “Actually, in your case, it’ll be 20 years.”  The guy says, “20 years! Why would you say that?”  “Oh, I was mistaken,” says the monk, “it’ll be 40 years for you.”

This little story points to our ideas about time, about a future when things will surely be better. The mind craves certainty. The left side, anyway.  It wants the answers to questions and it wants these answers on a timetable.  Just asking the question, though, will get you 10 more years.

John Lennon’s famous line, “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans” always come to mind when I think of the story of the guy and monk. While your body is going through this thing called life, your mind is going through your fantasy about life, your idea about life, your big story about life.

We hear all kinds of talk about entering the present moment, but even that’s a concept. Just notice that you can never leave here, except in your mind. Be present and your passion for your life and for your work will never be depleted.