will to improve

many practitioners seek improvement. 'i will make this world a better place.' 'i will make myself a better person.' 'i will find enlightenment.'


this world lasted since beginningless times. not once it failed to have a dropped rock fall. not once it failed helping in finding happiness. countless humans sought to improve this world. absolute most of them were unhappy. most of them brought more harm than peace with the improvements.

on the other hand sakyamuni and other teachers took little, if any, part in the world life. i don't recall any of them express the will to improve this world.



the idea of improving self is a trap in itself: it implies that there is a better self, to which we are inferior. in zen tradition it is said 'kill a buddha', i. e. dismiss the authority. thinking of a better self first we form up an illusion, then label it as authority. quite unhelpful.



quite a tiny percent of people know what enlightenment is in every time. yet they hardly speak of it. why? because they who don't know start thinking about it, start seeking it. so, they seek something they do not know, yet they imagine it well. they chase an illusion. this way brings no peace.


thus, will to improve is phantom chasing. breath in. breath out. smile :)

good luck.
mickael