The expression “It is what it is” has become common in Western speech and writing, to the point of being trite. Even Dilbert has joined the party. It is the kind of phrase that’s easy to throw into a discussion in which we’re not especially interested or do not want to become intellectually involved, while still seeming to be engaged, rather like the “Oh, well,” said with rising inflection, that we might have tossed out back in the eighties.

That is an interesting, if mostly accidental, evolution of shallow thought, because, when we get right down to it, it is pretty much the ultimate answer (after 42, of course).

“It is what it is” embodies the entire spectrum of Buddhist philosophy, often expressed — especially by Zen teachers — as Thus. It covers the ideas of confusion, delusion, and the quest for enlightenment: seeing the world as it truly is, unfettered by our opinions, wants, preferences, prejudices and previous experiences — even our immediate thoughts. It is…what it is.

So, the next time we find ourselves throwing it out as a conversation stopper, or as punctuation while we think of something profound to say, we can reflect that, properly understood, it is both. In fact, it is what it is.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.