This story reminds me of the importance of focus for attaining goals. A martial arts student approached his teacher with a question. “I’d like to improve my knowledge of the martial arts. In addition to learning from you, I’d like to study with another teacher in order to learn another style. What do you think […]
This simple story from the Taoist tradition reminds me of how simply some of our difficulties in life can be solved with a bit of wisdom and common sense. In this case the wise man simply uses his intelligence to avoid pain. Once there was a horse tied up on the side of the street. […]
Several years ago I attended a 10 day silent meditation retreat with my teacher in India. I remember fondly how much I enjoyed the silence and the opportunity to simply watch my thoughts without giving them verbal form. I also remember how difficult it was for some of the group (we were about 200 people) […]
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 […]
“Just as no one in his senses would look for the morning news in a dictionary, no one should use speaking and thinking to find out what cannot be spoken or thought.” –Alan Watts