'Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"
"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"
If You Love, Love Openly
Twenty monks and one nun, who was named Eshun, were practicing meditation with a certain Zen master.
Eshun was very pretty even though her head was shaved and her dress plain. Several monks secretly fell in love with her. One of them wrote her a love letter, insisting upon a private meeting.
Eshun did not reply. The following day the master gave a lecture to the group, and when it was over, Eshun arose. Addressing the one who had written her, she said: "If you really love me so much, come and embrace me now."
Calling Card
Keichu, the great Zen teacher of the Meiji era, was the head of Tofuku, a cathedral in Kyoto. One day the governor of Kyoto called upon him for the first time.
His attendant presented the card of the governor, which read: Kitagaki, Governor of Kyoto.
"I have no business with such a fellow," said Keichu to his attendant. "Tell him to get out of here."The attendant carried the card back with apologies. "That was my error," said the governor, and with a pencil he scratched out the words Governor of Kyoto. "Ask your teacher again."
"Oh, is that Kitagaki?" exclaimed the teacher when he saw the card. "I want to see that fellow."'
From 'Zen stories to tell your neighbours'
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Judit, I love the way you write about life :O) when I read your blog, it somehow brings me back down to earth to the things that are really important. So many of us (including myself at times) dash around in a haze complaining about this and that and missing the special little things in life. It is true, life is short and we must filter out the 'garbage' so that we can appreciate what really matters.
ReplyDeleteKindness, appreciation and honesty goes a long way.
Keep on blogging Judit :O)
Kindest wishes
Mandy
Kicsi Manda Panda,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely surprise to find your comment on my blog. I hope that your holiday is going well so far and you managed to catch some rays of sunshine through the dash of dazzling raindrops trickling down your windows. :)
Thank you for your comment. I spend considerable time creating postings, which are the building blocks of understanding and applying pedagogy.
There are many, many layers to be aware of, to be considered and to be utilised when dealing with humanity as a whole cohabiting this planet.
Each culture, tribe interprets what is perceived as their reality differently. To understand and find the underlying, very unique and core characteristics of our human nature we need to understand more about ourselves and about each other. By sieving through the contrasts of interpretations and beliefs surrounding us and lying within us we could find the truth instead of regurgitating what we are told.
‘An error doesn’t become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody will see it.’ Mahatma Gandhi