Chop wood, carry water: why? A very famous, so famous it may be apocryphal, zen quote says:


  Before Enlightenment chop wood carry water, after Enlightenment, chop
  wood carry water.


What does this mean? Specifically, is the discourse saying that time without effort is wasted time?
Admittedly, I am not a well-versed student of Zen ... or Buddhism for that matter. However, I will offer my interpretation: Before you achieve enlightenment you will have to do chores associated with everyday living. Then, even after becoming enlightened, you will still have to do the same chores - becoming enlightened does remove the need to deal with everyday things.