"Every day is a good day."

This is a quote from a Zen koan, spoken by Zen Master Yun Men, who lived and taught in 10th century China.

To have the conviction that every day is a good day means that we are living our own lives. If we discriminate based on our own feelings of happiness or unhappiness and say, "I wonder if today will be good," or "Today I am happy so it is a good day," or "Today I am unhappy so today is a bad day," or "If something nice happens to me today then today will be a good day," then we are living passively, as if life is just something that happens to us.

On some days we will suffer. Then, when that is necessary, when that is the reality of our lives, it is our day to suffer. Some days we will be happy. Then it will be a good day to be happy. Some days we will have to struggle. Then it will be a good day to struggle. Some day we will need to fight. Then it will be a good day to fight. Some day it will be our day to die. Then, as Black Elk said, it will be a good day to die.

This way we are responsible for our own lives. Every day is a perfect opportunity to face what we need to face.

When we learn a new kata, we are asked to move in unfamiliar ways. At first it is difficult and awkward. Then our movement becomes agile and powerful. If the kata is well made, we see good results from our effort to master it. The kata is asking us to change our physical habits in a way that adds skill, removes obstructions, makes us more free.

That is the way it is with “Every day is a good day.” We can use it as a philosophical kata. If we apply it, test it, and return to it under the pressure of the moment and in calm reflection, it will strengthen our mind and our life.