34.6 is the perfect image of being stuck in something, not able to pull out, and not able to proceed.

So basically, right now you're stuck in the painfulness of the experience. Not necessarily a bad thing, though, because as you know, life gives us pain when it wants us to pay attention to something. And the more attention you give something, the more energy flows into that thing, and if it's a painful thing, that means the quicker it heals. So pay attention to the pain, in other words, and you'll heal faster. The text for this line also says as much: it says that although this is hard, in the end it means good fortune. The good fortune is freedom from being stuck, of course. But if you're smart, it's more - it can also be freedom from the sort of illusions, delusions, assumptions and mistakes that got you into the painful experience in the first place. It's not saying 'don't get involved again'; it's saying 'keep your eyes open next time'. Pay attention. Pay attention to the pain now. Pay attention to what's happening next time you get into a similar situation. And by the way... you'll notice that in 34.6, it's a goat that's stuck in the hedge. Not a dog, not a cat, not a horse, not a cow. A goat. Why a goat? Well, they're famous for impulsiveness, for acting without thinking. That's how the goat got stuck in the hedge. It butted the damn thing without thinking about consequences. There's a hint in that image.

Just about everybody cringes away from pain, whether it's physical or emotional, and tries to get back to the comfort zone as quickly as possible - that's the way we're built. The problem with this, especially the big, painful emotional stuff is that when you don't give it the attention it deserves (big stuff deserves attention and needs attention) it doesn't get processed, it doesn't get psychologically digested, and it hides out up in the unconscious mind and influences us in all sorts of ways, mostly negative. So, for instance, imagine you get hurt in a relationship with someone and then before you've processed all that hurt and anger and insecurity and self-disesteem, you run into another relationship right away, chances are you'll just repeat the whole thing. But if you give it your attention, if you really look at it, really hold those feelings in the light of your attention when they come up, and if you journal them and write them down and ask good questions about them and wait for the answers, then they'll get processed and THAT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE and chances are you won't have to repeat it. Tadaaaaaa!

I think 34.6 doesn't necessarily mean that you have to sit back and do nothing. But is does indicate a tendency to try to go faster than it goes. If you jump from a high cliff into a lake the water will hit you hard, like a wall. Yet water is in itself not like a wall, it is soft and gives way. The wall-effect is created by your speed. It's the same with the ram and the hedge. You could say that the ram runs faster than the hedge can give way. And then it gets entangled. Another analogy, if you drive too fast through a city you will often have to stop for a red light. But if you drive slower (but not too slow) most lights that you encounter will

be green. Because it's made that way, well, at least here in this country, I think. So, I guess it's all a matter of slowing down, till you are in sync with the 'speed of the tao'. Or maybe I should say the beat of the tao?

There's a thorny tree/shrub which grows abundantly here, appropriately called Catclaw Acacia, and it has the nickname "wait-a-minute bush". The reason for the nickname becomes quickly obvious if one should come into the slightest contact with it. Any movement you make only digs the needle sharp claws deeper into your clothes or skin, and other wily branches attach with each movement. The only way to extricate yourself from it is to stand very still, relax, and patiently and carefully remove one claw at a time. Fighting against it is the worst thing you can possibly do.

Every time I tangle (literally) with those Catclaw Acacias I think of 34.6. The other day I was outback, pruning a huge one which grows against the fence. There's a sense of panic that sets in when one branch hooks into your arm, and every move you make only hooks it deeper, and hooks you to more thin branches. First thing is to just stop, then relax everything. Then one by one, each thorn hook is pulled out, and finally to slowly and deliberately step out of it. There's another incident which brings both 3 and 34.6 to mind. I use baitcasting fishing reels, and sometimes the spool over-spins the line, resulting in a backlash or "bird's nest". The worst thing to do is start yanking on the line, as that only digs the knots deeper into the spool. The only way to clear it is to find the top loop, gently tugging it free, then the next loop, and so on. It requires calmness and patience. Aggression just makes an irreconcilable mess of it.

The True Meaning of Laziness Do you think you are a lazy person? Do you think you are not a lazy person? I think a better question is, do you know what the true meaning of laziness is? I mean, until we know what the true meaning of laziness is, we cant really decide if we are or are not lazy people. So to reveal the true meaning of laziness let me tell you a story. Zen Master Blumise was growing very old. He had been the head abbot of No Wind Monastery for a very long time and was ready to anoint a successor. Master Blumise decreed that the monk who he felt was least lazy, would take over as head abbot of No Wind Monastery. Everyone knew that the real competition was only between Chin and Tara. They both had immense character, were flush with noble qualities and were favorite students of Master Blumise. The competition was on. Chin pondered hard as to how he would demonstrate his non-lazy character to Master Blumise and finally came up with a huge list of items that needed to be done around the monastery grounds. This he thought would be appripo. There was much work to be done and, in accordance with the Zen teachings of physical labor, he would show

Master Blumise just how devoted to work he could be. Moreover, Chin knew that some of this work was very physical in nature and that Tara, being a lady of slight stature and build, would not be able to do it even if she decided to. Feeling confident in his plan, he set out to execute it. Chin began rebuilding the temple roof which had begun to decay. Also, high up on the roof he knew he would be very visible to everyone in the grounds, especially Master Blumise. As he toiled in the hot sun, he noticed Tara far away sitting by the river under a shaded tree. He smiled and mentally awarded himself a point. Early the next morning, Chin sprang out of bed and headed to the monastery kitchen, which he had decided to repaint. Along the way he noticed Tara, awake, but still in bed. "Thats 2 points for me," he thought as his smile grew wider. And so it went. Chin pounding away making the monastery the 8th wonder of the world and Tara strolling along the river, hanging out in bed, drinking tea with her friends and watching the clouds roll by. A week passed and then there was great excitement around the monastery. Master Blumise had made his decision and all had been asked to convene in the newly built Great Meditation Hall. "My most beloved students," Master Blumise began, "First, I would like to say that we are renaming the Great Meditation Hall to Chin Meditation Hall, to show our collective appreciation to young Master Chin for rebuilding it so finely and also, for all the terrific work he has done around the monastery grounds." After the sound of one hand clapping settled down, Master Blumise continued, "Master Tara will take over as the head abbot as I am retiring and heading to Disney Land." All were pleased and applauded once more, except of course a confused Chin. Later that day, Chin visited Master Blumise and inquired about why he had selected Tara as the least lazy student. "Dearest Chin," said Master Blumise with a soft, compassionate smile, "It was a no-brainer. In the past week she has not let a single thought, emotion or action of hers go unnoticed. She is equal to Shakyamuni Buddha himself in her awareness. I bow to her greatness." Chin understood clearly and bowed as well in admiration and respect. So there you have it. A lazy person is one who is not aware of their thoughts, emotions and actions - thats it. One who is aware of their thoughts as they occur, the feelings that pass through them and the actions they take, are the ones who are not lazy. So, one can be very active and still be very lazy, or one can be not active at all, but be very diligent. It is simply about being mindful and finely tuned in to the present moment.