My Zen Teacher’s Carpentry

I have a Zen teacher whose carpentry I have availed myself of several times as a form of dāna, and the work always looks great upon receipt — if a bit spartan — and then it gradually starts to fall apart.

If that seems like an apt Zen metaphor on its own, the particular piece that inspired this observation is even more on the nose:

There has been something wrong with this piece since I got it, a removable lid that never sat right when closed. Eventually, the pressure on it pulled all the little nails out, and a big internal board came off.

I checked under it, and it seemed basically fine. The edges of the top upholstery were stapled under it, but they’re secure, no big deal. Lid sits fine now.

His one unnecessary elaboration is what failed, and then the whole piece finally worked.