Monk wisdom is here

One day, a loyal young monk witnessed conversation between a very rich businessman and his master. Seeing how disrespectful the business man was, the monk was angry. But his master kept smiling.

When the conversation was over, the monk asked the master,

“Master, how can you let him treat you like that? He thinks he is much higher than you, he’s so full of pride, and greed. How can you be so patient? I cannot help but to resent him!”

In response, the master patted him on the shoulder.

“Look deeper, and see; behind every pride is the fear of not being acknowledged by others; behind every greed is the fear of lack or losing something. Seeing that fearful man, I cannot help but to feel compassion toward him; and wish he is freed from such sufferings.”

Hearing this, the monk was silent.

What is your take?

THE STUDENT Doko came to a Zen master, and said: "I am seeking the truth. In what state of mind should I train myself, so as to find it?"

Said the master, "There is no mind, so you cannot put it in any state. There is no truth, so you cannot train yourself for it."

"If there is no mind to train, and no truth to find, why do you have these monks gather before you every day to study Zen and train themselves for this study?"

"But I haven't an inch of room here," said the master, so how could the monks gather? I have no tongue, so how could I call them together or teach them?"

"Oh, how can you lie like this?" asked Doko.

"But if I have no tongue to talk, how can I lie?" asked the master.

Then Doko said sadly, "I cannot follow or understand you."

"I cannot understand myself," said the master.

Action speaks louder than words

Zen koans offer insight that prompts reflection about your own thoughts and behaviour. This classic is shared from http://www.ashidakim.com/zenkoans/zenindex.html

In modern times, a great deal of nonsense is talked about masters and disciples, and about the inheritance of a master's teaching by favorite pupils, entitling them to pass the truth on to their adherents. Of course Zen is impartedfrom heart to heart, and in the past it was really accomplished. Silence and humility reigned rather than profession and assertion.He who received such a teaching kept the matter hidden, even after twenty years. Not until another discovered through his own need that a real master was at hand was it learned hat the teaching had been imparted. Even then, the occasion arose quite naturally. Teaching made its way in its own right. Under no circumstances dida teacher even claim "I am the successor of So-and-so." Such a claim would prove quite the contrary.

The Zen master Mu-nan had only one successor. His name was Shoju. After Shoju had completed his study of Zen, Mu-nan called him into his room. "I am getting old," he said, "and as far as I know, Shoju, you are the only one who will carry on this teaching. Here is a book. It has been passed down from master to master for seven generations. I also have added many points according to my understanding. The book is very valuable, and I am giving it to you to represent your successorship."

"If the book is such an important thing, you had better keep it," Shoju replied. "I received your Zen without writing and am satisfied with it as it is."

"I know that," said Mu-nan. "Even so, this work has been carried from master to master for seven generations, so you may keep it as a symbol of having received the teaching. Here."

The two happened to be talking before a brazier. The instant Shoju felt the book in his hands he thrust it into the flaming coals. He had no lust for possessions.

Mu-nan, who never had been angry before, yelled: "What are you doing!"

Shoju shouted back: "What are you saying!"

What is your impression of this tale? What insight do you extract from it? How do you relate in your life right now?

What is the point of emptiness?

Zen koans invite you to step outside of conditioned thought to perceive differently.  You learn to discern value in situations that resonate wisdom as you choose to open the mind to new possibilities. What revelations does this koan awaken in you?

Subhuti was Buddha’s disciple. He was able to understand the potency of emptiness, the viewpoint that nothing exists except in its relationship of subjectivity and objectivity.

One day Subhuti, in a mood of sublime emptiness, was sitting under a tree. Flowers began to fall about him.

“We are praising you for your discourse on emptiness,” the gods whispered to him.

“But I have not spoken of emptiness,” said Subhuti.

“You have not spoken of emptiness, we have not heard emptiness,” responded the gods. “This is true emptiness.” And blossoms showered upon Subhuto as rain.

What does a mirror tell you?

There was once a monk who would carry a mirror where ever he went. This action drew the attention of a particular priest who grew convinced the monk must be misguided.

A priest noticed this repeatedly and thought to himself, "This monk is so preoccupied with the way he looks he has to carry that mirror all the time. He should not worry about the way he looks on the outside, it's what's inside that counts." The priest felt it made sense to take steps to guide the monk to the light.

So, the priest went up to the monk and asked "Why do you always carry that mirror?" The priest thought for sure the monk's response would reveal misplaced ego and guilt.

The monk pulled the mirror from his bag and pointed it at the priest. Then he said, "I use it in times of trouble. I look into it and it shows me the source of my problems as well as the solution to my problems."

What does a mirror tell you?

"All men should strive to learn before they die what they are running from, and to, and why."
-James Thurber