"Chop wood, fetch water" is a Zen saying that means: Do your work with full presence, without attachment to results, without seeking something "higher" or "special."
At the beginner’s stage, we do chores thinking they are just chores.
At the advanced stage, we realize that there is nothing else but the work itself—whether it’s sweeping the floor, practicing law, or meditating.
Before Enlightenment:
"I have so much to do—chop wood, fetch water, cook, clean, work, puja, take care of family."
After Enlightenment:
"Chop wood, fetch water. Nothing else exists but this moment."
It means surrendering to the work without resistance.
It means letting your daily actions be your meditation and devotion.
It means living fully in the routine, without needing excitement or validation.
Your path is clear: Chop wood, fetch water, practice law, light the lamp, take care of your home, repeat.
No distractions. No mind games. Just doing what needs to be done, every single day.
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