Zen Miracles
An ancient Zen story tells that centuries ago, a physician, faced daily with death and suffering, sought out the guidance of a famous Zen Master who was living quietly in an inaccessible mountain hut. The physician climbed the mountain, searched for the hut, and, after many days, found him raking leaves at the side of his tiny house. The teacher did not look up when the student arrived, but kept raking slowly.
"I have come to understand the essence of Zen," the physician proclaimed. The Zen Master looked up
for a moment. "Go home and be kind to your patients," the Master replied. "That is Zen."
~ ~ ~
"Life is One Continuous Mistake." - Dogen Zenji
If we are truly able to absorb this statement it becomes much easier to become real. One continuous mistake relieves us of false feelings of shame, guilt, and self-hate when we fumble and err. It boldly and clearly informs us that the very nature of life itself forces us to fall down, make mistakes, be made a fool of, and then get up again. It is this very process of life itself that diminishes foolish pride we are so filled with.
During my life and Zen practice if there has been a pothole in the street, like clockwork, I fall into it. If there was a mistake to be made, I made it. Not only once, but again and again. Instead of fearing to walk out of the house, I have learned to enjoy being in the potholes when I land there and spend time looking around. Rather than hating myself or the potholes, I just simply say, "Oh, blind again."
After fully experiencing a particular pothole, as many times as I fall in, getting out becomes easier. By now I have become quite good at falling into potholes and just climbing out. As a result of all this, I am quite familiar with the terrain of potholes and find a particular beauty in them. As I have done this many times, they hold less attraction to me. Now I fall in and get out in a matter of minutes, no damage, no shame.
When we let go of guilt, shame, and the unnecessary pride involved in being right, not making mistakes, we are free to fall in or climb out, enjoy and learn from both activities. We are also free to give up our pride, relax deeply, and drink a cup of green tea.
Zen Miracles
Finding Peace in an
Insane World
by Brenda Shoshanna
"To separate what we like from what we dislike is the disease
of the mind."
- Sosan, On Believing in Mind
This famous quote suggests that the pain and loss we experience in relationships has nothing to do with the other person, it is a disease lodged within our own mind. We cause this suffering by separating what we like from what we dislike, by constantly judging and condemning others, by refusing our love if a person doesn't make the grade.
To separate what we like from what we dislike kills all relationships both with others and with ourselves. This basic tenet of Zen is a profound instruction both for meditation and relationships in everyday life.