What we call 'I' is just a swinging door, which moves when we inhale and when we exhale

What we call 'I' is just a swinging door, which moves when we inhale and when we exhale

Shunryu Suzuki, a renowned Zen master and teacher, often spoke about the concept of the self and the interconnectedness of all things. One of his most famous teachings is the idea that what we call 'I' is just a swinging door, which moves when we inhale and when we exhale. This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the essence of Zen philosophy and the impermanence of the self.

In Zen Buddhism, the concept of the self is seen as an illusion, a construct of the mind that creates a sense of separateness from the world around us. Suzuki often used the metaphor of the swinging door to illustrate this idea. Just as a door swings open and closed, our sense of self is constantly in flux, changing with each breath we take. When we inhale, we take in the world around us, absorbing the sights, sounds, and sensations of our environment. When we exhale, we release these impressions back into the world, letting go of our attachment to them.

Suzuki's teaching reminds us that the self is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process that is constantly evolving. Our sense of identity is not something solid and unchanging but a fluid and ever-shifting phenomenon. By recognizing the impermanence of the self, we can free ourselves from the limitations of ego and open ourselves up to the interconnectedness of all things.

The swinging door metaphor also highlights the interconnected nature of reality. Just as a swinging door connects two rooms, our sense of self connects us to the world around us. We are not separate from the world but intimately intertwined with it, like the swinging door that moves in harmony with the breath. When we let go of our attachment to the self, we can experience a sense of oneness with all things, recognizing that we are not separate from the world but a part of it.