Zen Words for Everyday Life Vol. 16

When we cling to past achievements, it will become difficult to move forward.
To step into what comes next, we must learn to let go of past glory.

The Zen word 破草鞋 (hasoai) captures this mindset.

破 (ha) means “worn out” or “broken,” and 草鞋 (soai or also known as waraji) refers to traditional straw sandals. Together, the term points to something that has become useless or no longer serves any practical purpose.

To explain the significance of this phrase, it helps to look at the training of monks of the Rinzai Zen sect.

During Zen dialogues between a master and a monk undergoing Zen training, the monk answers questions called koan. When the master accepts an answer, the practitioner moves on to the next koan.

The purpose of practicing koan is koji kyumei–the thorough investigation of one’s true self and the realization of one’s true nature. Therefore, even when an answer is accepted by the master, there is no reason to keep holding it. During my own training, I was taught to let each answer go without hesitation and approach the next question with a fresh mind.

Then, why must we let go of something that we have worked so hard to earn and that has been recognized by others? Even when something has been gained, becoming attached to it can prevent us from discovering new insights. It can also make it difficult to respond flexibly to the circumstances before us. In other words, attachment can hinder the changes and growth that are needed in the present moment.

We often take great pride in our past successes. While major achievements at one company certainly boost your career, you cannot keep building your identity solely on those past successes in a new environment.

Let go of what you have gained.
This is the essence of the hasoai.

In the past, once straw sandals wore out, they were returned to the earth, where they decomposed and nourished the soil.

Past glories are also hasoai. They will become fertilizer for new growth, helping you take root and flourish in a new environment.

Saihoji　 　 FUJITA Ryuko