THE LOST SON “A young widower, who loved his five year old son very much, was away on business when bandits came who burned down the whole village and took his son away. When the man returned, he saw the ruins and panicked. The took the burnt corpse of an infant to be his…
Category: ZEN BUDDHISM
“The immesurables” from the Buddha’s teachings
[The Buddha] used to make monks and laypeople alike practice a certain discipline called the “immeasurables,” because it made you bigger. You sat and you sent out waves of benevolence and good wishes to the whole world, not excluding anyone from your radius of benevolence. It’s a radius. You have to start off when you’re…
A quote on enlightenment by Dogen Zenji (1200 – 1253)
Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water. The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken. Although its light is wide and great, the moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide. The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in dewdrops on the grass, or even in…
Spirituality from Daily Word: “Grace” (Espiritualidad de la Palabra Diaria: “Gracia”)
Grace I open my heart to the grace of God. Grace pours into my life when I open my heart to the goodness and light of God, especially during a dark time. I don’t make grace happen, but I can choose to be open to it. Grace seems to come unbidden, but my receptivity welcomes…
ZEN POEMS: “For Síle: When the beetle sees”…by Wei Wu Wei (Alias: Terence James Stannus Gray)
When the beetle sees, it is I that am looking,
When the nightingale sings, it is I that am singing,
When the lion roars, it is I that am roaring.
“Subtle Truth” – by Lao Tzu
Why scurry about looking for the truth?
It vibrates in every thing and every not-thing,
right off the tip of your nose. Can you be still and see it
in the mountain? the pine tree? yourself?
“The Way of Divine Energy” by Elquanah (re-blogged)
The Way of Divine Energy The wisdom and insight we can learn from ancient texts is never ending. More than 5000 years ago the ancient Chinese masters of esoteric healing came to the understanding that everything is composed of the same energetic substance called Qi. They observed the oneness and wholeness in all existence and …
ZEN POEMS: “Still water” by Chuang Tzu
“Still water” The non-action of the wise man is not inaction. It is not studied. It is not shaken by anything. The sage is quiet because he is not moved, Not because he wills to be quiet. Still water is like glass. You can look in it and see the bristles on your chin. It…
ZEN PET LOSS POEMS: A rescued cat “Moses” by Tarchin Hearn
Wangapeka July 6/95 Moses was a cat I found on the road and brought back to Wangapeka We met in death upon the road of sunshine strong and summer full with mirage-like promises.Your brother dead and sister dying and you me-ewing in death’s sure path, abandoned to your fate. I put you and sister in…
SHORT ZEN POEMS: “Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn”
Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.
ZEN POEMS:”Paper windows bamboo walls hedge of hibiscus” (about contentment)
“Paper windows bamboo walls hedge of hibiscus” Paper windows bamboo walls hedge of hibiscus when guests arrive wormwood soup serves as tea the poor people I meet are mostly content rare is the rich man who isn’t vain or wasteful I move my bookstand to read sutras by moonlight I honor the buddhas with…
SHORT ZEN POEMS: “This body’s lifetime is like a bubble’s” (impermanence)
This body’s lifetime is like a bubble’s
may as well let things go
plans and events seldom agree
who can step back doesn’t worry
