Each Moment
life as it is
the only teacher.
Zen Center of San Diego, Practice Principles
photo tobosha
Tag: Be fully present
Sunday Quote: Quiet
A quote for the beginning of the most important week in the Christian calendar:
The quieter you become
The more you can hear
Ram Dass
photo USFWS Mountain Prairie
Stopping negative thoughts
Keep your heart clear and spacious
and you will never be hooked.
A single disturbed thought
causes ten thousand distractions
Ryokan, Zen Buddhist monk, 1758 – 1831
photo Adityamadhav83
A solid sense of self
Chi Hsing-tzu was training a fighting cock for the king.
After 10 days, the king asked if the bird was ready for combat. “No, Your Majesty,” replied Chi,” He’s too full of fire, arrogant, always ready to pick a fight. He’s relying on his own strength.”
Another 10 days passed, and the king asked again, Chi said, “No, Sir, not yet. He still becomes excited when a rival bird appears.”
10 more days. The king asked again. “Not yet,” Chi said. “He still gets an angry glint in his eye, and ruffles up his feathers.”
Another 10 days, another question.
Chi said, “Now, Sir, he is ready.
When a rival bird crows, his eyes don’t even flicker. He stands immobile like a block of wood.
His focus is inside.
Other birds will take one look at him and run.”
Story told by Chuang-tzu (Zhuang Zhou), Chinese Taoist philosopher, 4th century BC
Photo fernando de suosa
Our original mind
Mind has no colour; it is not long or short;
it does not vanish or appear; it is free from purity and impurity alike; and its duration is eternal.
It is utter stillness.
Such, then, is the form and shape of our original mind,
which is also our original body.
Hui Hai 720 – 814
photo alvesgaspar
Sunday Quote: Springtime: Just paying attention
Nothing you ever understand
will be sweeter, or more binding,
than this deep affinity between your eyes and the world.
Mary Oliver, Terns
