it’s only a point

[AUDIO AND TEXT]

I heard a university commencement speech a little while ago, delivered by a champion professional tennis player. In the speech, which the player titled “Tennis Lessons” or some such, the tennis pro basically encouraged the graduating students to “keep on keeping on,” no matter what. (See 2024 Commencement Address by Roger Federer at Dartmouth (youtube.com).)

To illustrate, the player used an analogy of an actual tennis game or match in progress. If you serve a double-fault, it’s only a point. If you fall victim to a fantastic passing shot that just whizzes by you, it’s only a point. Even if you hit a mind-blowing overhead smash shot to win a point – again, it’s only a point. The “point” (and pardon the pun) of all this is, when you’re playing a point in a game of tennis, that point has to be the most important thing in the world. But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you. This mindset it really crucial, the player said, because it frees you to engage the next point, and the next one, and the one after that – with intensity, clarity, and focus. So said Fed.

When I heard this part of the speech, I was reminded of one of our Miscellaneous Koans, number 21 it is. Here’s one translation of that koan:

One may make steady progress in the practice, but It remains the same.

And here’s another, which I think hews more closely to what this commencement speaker said:

When you practice Zen upward (step by step), every step is equal in substance.

There are other translations, but let’s go with the second one cited here. What this is saying is that no matter what experiences you have, what pains or glories befall you as you practice Zen, it’s only a point. Yet, what’s underneath it all remains the same. In Essential Nature, nothing changes. It’s all equal. I’m tempted to add, It’s all good. “But, what if it’s not “all good?” we may ask. Our teacher Fr. Greg would remind us, “Well, that’s it, too.” It’s only a point.

When you practice Zen, for instance koan study, one step by one step, you are advancing, so there are steps; but then from the Essential point of view, before kensho [sudden enlightenment], after kensho, … it’s all the same – so there are no steps.

Zen is our everyday living, and our everyday living is Zen. You can apply the tennis pro’s lessons and our koan lessons effectively in just about every aspect of your life. What did one ancient master say when asked, “What is the Buddha Way?” He replied, “Ordinary [or Everyday] mind is the Way.” And that’s what we are called to realize, to remember, and to bring into our lives. It’s only a point. That’s it, too. Everyday mind is the Way. And underneath it all, Essential Nature remains the same.

Thank you.

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