I think what Ram Dass was saying is very consistent with Zen teachings. The normal, mundane things that we do are special and they are mundane. They are what they are. Meditation is the same, and it has nothing to do with this particular phrase from Ran Dass. People are always looking for more. More excitement, more experience, more meaning. Ram Dass was saying that chopping the wood and carrying the water are just fine. As are all the other tasks we do in our lives. They are no better or worse than sky diving, exploring the Antarctic, or curing cancer. Don’t judge!