Some people feel bad about taking time out to practice when there is so much to do. Paradoxically, we find that our practice time develops qualities that make us more efficient and our tasks more enjoyable.
Feel good about the time you devote to your practice. Practice first for yourself, so you are fit enough to share and develop an abundance to give. Make quality time for yourself, and you will increase the quality time you spend with others.
Jori-ki is self-power, power we develop through our own efforts. Jori-ki we generate ourselves through our actions, our diet, our attitude and, especially, our daily practice.
Tari-ki is other-power, power we get from the efforts and charisma of others.
Tari-ki is what we soak up from being around people, places and situations.
It is vital for each of us to take responsibility by showing up with a store of jori-ki as well as with a receptivity to tari-ki.
“One day a man of the people said to Zen Master Ikkyu: “Master, will you please write for me some maxims of the highest wisdom?” Ikkyu immediately took his brush and wrote the word “Attention.” “Is that all?” asked the man. “Will you not add something more?” Ikkyu then wrote twice running: “Attention. Attention.” “Well,” remarked the man rather irritably, “I really don’t see much depth or subtlety in what you have just written.” Then Ikkyu wrote the same word three times running: “Attention. Attention. Attention.” Half angered, the man demanded: “What does that word ‘Attention’ mean anyway?” And Ikkyu answered gently: “Attention means attention (page 10-11).” ― Roshi P. Kapleau,
The Three Pillars of Zen
