Loading
Strategy Lab Marketing Regina
  • Home
  • About
  • What We Do
    • Website Development
    • Website Maintenance
    • Video Production
    • Photography
    • Graphic Design
    • Social Media
    • Marketing Strategy
    • SEO
    • Presentations
  • Blog
  • Community
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Need Help?
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Chop Wood

Carry Water

Before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.

After enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.

A young boy became a monk. He dreamed of enlightenment and of learning great things. When he got to the monastery he was told that each morning he had to chop wood for the monks fires and then carry water up to the monastery for ablutions and the kitchen. He attended prayers and meditation, but the teaching he was given was rather sparse.

One day he was told to take some tea to the Abbot in his chambers. He did so and the Abbot saw he looked sad and asked him “why”.

He replied “every day all I do is chop wood and carry water. I want to learn. I want to understand things. I want to be great one day, like you.”

The Abbot gestured to the scrolls on shelves lining the walls. He said, “When I started I was like you. Every day I would chop wood and carry water. Like you I understood that someone had to do these things, but like you I wanted to move forward. Eventually I did. I read all of the scrolls, I met with Kings and and gave council. I became the Abbot. Now, I understand that the key to everything is that everything is,’chopping wood and carrying water.’ and that if one does everything mindfully then it is all the same.”

This story is from “Chop Wood, Carry Water” Zen quote.

What do you do every day without complaint? Chop wood, carry water.

What daily practice do you have that isn’t easy but just challenging enough? What’s something that pushes you daily to better yourself? No matter how bad the week or good the previous day, what’s something you can do every day? What’s YOUR chopping wood and carrying water?

chop wood carry water-philosophy

Chop wood, carry water.

As the parable goes, once you realize every job is just as important as the other jobs, you can have peace knowing today you’re doing the important work of chopping wood and carrying water.

Stop over thinking what’s next or what you should be doing. People waste years of their life planning how to chop the wood and how to carry the water. You are much better off getting to the chopping and the carrying.

Chop wood, carry water.

I first heard of this concept in Seth Godin’s The Practice. I wonderful book that I think you may fall in love with. 

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent
  • best tweet thread ever20 Ideas I Can’t Stop Thinking About by Sahil BloomMay 2, 2022 - 1:43 pm
  • rejected facebook postsWhy Do Facebook Posts Get Rejected? (Video)Apr 21, 2022 - 1:13 pm
  • think different, help people, get paidThink Different. Help People. Get Paid.Apr 15, 2022 - 7:00 am
  • download the Uyghur Forced Labor CheckerDo You Know Where Your Clothes Are Made?Apr 12, 2022 - 8:33 am
  • The Marketing Revolution! From the creator of podcastin...Mar 28, 2022 - 12:26 pm
Comments
  • JephHey Dave! Well isn't that funny!! I meant every word of...May 9, 2022 - 2:42 pm by Jeph
  • David BelleriveI just heard about this new (ironic) search engine, called...May 9, 2022 - 10:44 am by David Bellerive
  • […] What do you do if your Facebook Page doesn't...Dec 17, 2021 - 4:03 pm by What Is The Difference Between Facebook Page Owner And Admin? – Almazrestaurant
  • Honkin' Tonk CalI'll be willing to bet I know which hotel in Saskatoon that...Nov 6, 2021 - 7:11 pm by Honkin' Tonk Cal
  • […] the relatively no rules the company was founded...Aug 25, 2021 - 3:58 pm by What’s Your Canada Principle? | Strategy Lab Marketing Regina
Tags
#InTheLab advice attitude bestof books books to read branding business strategy education Human first innovation inspiration inspiring learning lessons marketing marketing strategy mindset online strategy psychology quotes regina smarter thinking social media strategy stratlab thinking video videos what is the future of marketing

Top Posts

  • How to get your Facebook Page Back
  • 30 Podcast Episodes You Need To Listen To Before You Die
  • The Final Essay by Steve Jobs
  • What is "Flexing"? And Why You Shouldn't
  • No You're Not an Entrepreneur, You're Part of a Pyramid Scheme

Some Questions to get you thinking

  • How Do We Measure Your Website Strategy?
  • 33 Lessons in Neuromarketing
  • 23 Questions On How To Break Your Customers Expectations
  • 21 Questions About Your Change Management Strategy
  • 23 Questions to ask about your Content Strategy Discovery
  • 27 Questions About Your Customer Service Strategy
  • 32 Questions About Your Research Strategy
  • 24 Questions About Your Measurement Strategy
  • 21 Questions About Your Search Engine Strategy
  • 14 Questions About What Type of Company You Want To Be
  • 32 Questions About Your Engagement Strategy

  • Talk to us!
  • 306.535.9697
  • info@strategylab.ca
  • Visit us at Path Cowork
  • 200 – 1965 Broad St, Regina, SK
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Community
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • What We Do
  • Website Development
  • Website Maintenance
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Video Production
  • Photography
  • Graphic Design
  • Social Media Strategy
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Talks & Presentations

© 12,021HE ? Made with ♥ in Regina, SK on Treaty Four Territory
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Privacy Policy
The Final Essay by Steve JobsThe final essay of steve jobshow long does the content you're creating need to be?How Long Does My Online Content Need To Be?
Scroll to top