Daily Zen.. - The Orange Room

Bodhisattva

Heaven And Hell
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The old hermit sat by the side of the road. With his eyes closed, his legs crossed and his hands folded in his lap, he sat. In deep meditation, he sat.

Suddenly his meditation was interrupted by the harsh and demanding voice of a samurai warrior. "Old man! Teach me about heaven and hell!"

At first, as though he had not heard, there was no perceptible response from the monk. But gradually he began to open his eyes, the faintest hint of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth as the samurai stood there, waiting impatiently, growing more and more agitated with each passing second.

"You wish to know the secrets of heaven and hell?" replied the monk at last. "You who are so unkempt. You whose hands and feet are covered with dirt. You whose hair is uncombed, whose breath is foul, whose sword is all rusty and neglected. You who are ugly and whose mother dresses you funny. You would ask me of heaven and hell?"

The samurai uttered a vile curse. He drew his sword and raised it high above his head. His face turned to crimson and the veins on his neck stood out in bold relief as he prepared to sever the monk's head from its shoulders.

"That is hell," said the old monk gently, just as the sword began its descent. In that fraction of a second, the samurai was overcome with amazement, awe, compassion and love for this gentle being who had dared to risk his very life to give him such a teaching. He stopped his sword in mid-flight and his eyes filled with grateful tears.

"And at," said the monk, "is heaven."

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Compassion is a wonderful gift my dear brothers and sisters... Give it freely, without expecting anything in return.. With that attitude, you will be amazed at the tremendous rewards you will reap in your life and the lives of so many others..

Heaven and Hell can exist in the here and the now.. This is the essense of this story.. Its a state of mind.. When the mind is calm, clear, filled with gratitude and compassion, you are exercising your ability to be happy. When your mind is filled with anger and hate, you kill yourself first and foremost..

I hope everyone can benefit from this parrable!

May you all

Bodhisattva

The Calm Mind
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The Lake must be calm, its waters free from ripples
if the reflection of the Moon is to be pure, free from distortions..

As the lake, the Mind must be calm, to see the truth.

bodhisattva

Bodhisattva

The Pre-Occupied Mind
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A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself.

"It's overfull! No more will go in!" the professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."

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We must let go of as many of our stereotypes, preconditions, blind-faith belief systems, etc.. We have allowed for our minds to be out of control, discriminating, judging, occupied with counter-productive thoughts and emotions.. Though we want to combat this destructive conditioning, often we find ourselves helpless to do so, overwhelmed... Simply put we have made it our minds habit to operate without control and restraint.

So, we must be actively conscious of this situation, conscious that its the reality of this moment, and conscious that its a reality we want to change.. Dont occupie yourself with guilt and anger if progress is slow, that means you've already allowed for your old habits to build expectations, something that we are funnily enough striving to change.

Remain Positive, not blindly opptimistic.. Pragmatism is underrated.. With hard work, deligence and perseverance, Success is bound to happen..

Bodhisattva

The Two Monks
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Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was falling. As they came around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross at an intersection.

"Come on, girl," said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

Ekido did not speak until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he could no longer restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"

"I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?"

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I'll leave you ponder this one.. But its the Disposition of the mind that matters most!

Bodhisattva

Careful What You Think
=================

We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts we make the world.

Speak or act with an impure mind and trouble will follow you as the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart.

We are what we think.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts we make the world.

Speak or act with a pure mind and Happiness will follow you as your shadow, unshakable.

How can a troubled mind understand the way?

Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded.

But once mastered, no one can help you as much, not even your father or your mother.

Bodhisattva

A Scorpion Moment
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There was this Hindu who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger, but the scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of the water, but the scorpion stung him again.

A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging him.

But the Hindu said: "It is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"

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Out true nature is love. It operates through kindness and compassion, its tools are forgiveness and affection. There are many who sting, but that is not there nature.

Their true nature is love, light!! Just like a mirrors nature is to reflect purely and perfectly... But when dust accumulates on the surface, it will not reflect a distorted image. Our dust is our ignorance and we are like the mirror! Be patient with one another and help wipe off one anothers dust!!

Forgiveness and compassion is the key. Trust it! Light always ends darkness. It is the eternal law of nature!

As for the scorpion in the story, i would wear a glove!! ;)

Bodhisattva

Pray you are not so holy... that you become holier than thou...
So full of insight that you cannot see beyond yourself
So brazen as to believe you have all the answers
So bold as to think that God loves one over the other
So naive as to believe.. that condemnation will ever bring about conversion,
And so deaf as to hear only those words that you agree with.

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You either die in Ego, or you live in Truth my brothers and sisters

Bodhisattva

Our Greatest Fear
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Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

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Self Empowerment.. we dont need anyone to do ANYTHING for us.. Its up to you and me what we do with our lives. Do we lay back and become a secondary character, a backseat driver in our own destinies??! Or do we take charge, do we take the Lead in our own lives?!! This is self empowerement. It is awareness that WE DO HAVE A CHOICE. It is awareness that WE ARE SPECIAL, each and everyone just for being who we are and what we are. But we have to live it, embody this potential. This is the trick..

there is so much potential in each of us, TOO MUCH. Einstein says e=mc|2. Thats close, but still no bulls eye. With any form of power, comes a Great Responsibilty. We MUST empower ourselves, but we must do so for the right reasons. This is where ones volition comes to question, ones intentions and motivation. We are where we are because we have a sacred duty. The duty to become one with Truth.

Love is the Eternal truth. Not hollywood love or bollywood love. But the egoless love, the indiscriminating love, the unconditional love that permeates all man-made barriers. It is universal.. No sects, religions, dogmas, passports, nothing.!!! As soon as it ceases to be universal, it ceases to be true. Its tools are compassion, forgiveness and kindness. That is it, this is the secret of the universe that so many dwell on.. Truth CANNOT be complicated otherwise it CANNOT be truth.. Truth is universal and as such comprehendable for all.

Live this example, Live by example and your courage in doing so inspires someone else to do the same.

bodhisattva.

Bodhisattva

Bodhisattva Koan
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Leaving Heart behind
no choice but to walk forward

leaving Heart behind
shifting from one to the other
searching for Home

so far, so far away
yet so surprisingly close
Home is where the Heart is..

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Is it just me? Is it the unique combination of events and occurences that shaped the seas of my life? My life story has become my journey. My lifeline, my little boat that shelters me as i cross the depth of the ocean, that is my hope. From one storm, on to the next to a short breather where things dont come crashing down.. Home, is that the destination.. can it be the destination..? Home, home is where the heart is.. Let the journey be my home... who knows you might come accross another Drifter one day, a Drifter with their unique adventures and unique stories to tell, one who is also seeking their Home.. its inspiring, truly, cuz it reminds you that u are not on your own... and you come to better appreciate gibran's words: "for in the dew of little things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."

as for the destination! let it come when it comes, my home is right here with me.

b.

Bodhisattva

After the Storm
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I write this to you today to warn you of the days ahead. They will be hard, they will be desperate, bloody, dark and overwhelming. We are no longer fighting for our independance from the occuppier. Our struggle now is much more critical, much more dangerous. We are fighting the remnants of those who collaborated with the occupiers, the traitors that sold their country and its people to the highest bidder. They are cornered. They are cornered by the people and like a cornered beast, they will be most dangerous. This Danger will do whatever it takes to maintain its grip on power and by that their grip on us, the Children of the Cedars. Be prepared as they will want to play on our old wounds, they will attempt to extract the deep rooted sentiments of sectarianism, fuedalism and other pathetic forms of dangerous distinctions. It is our Union that scares them most. If they Divide, they conquer, BUT, we Won't let them or anyone else Divide us this time. It is time for Us, the People to conquer. Beware my fellow Citizens. Beware.

We must be Prepared to face it all. It is our duty. Now more than ever. It is essential to stay the course. At the end of every tunnel, there is an openning. At the end of every night, there is a dawn. At the End of every storm, there is a light.

The Light, the Dawn, the Truth is there my fellow Patriots. It is not mine alone. It is for all of us. For those who believe in its beauty. All that stands in between is the darkness. Have the courage to face this and any ignorance. Stay the course My fellow patriots and

Have the courage to Realize your Dream.

For the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

and our Dream is Lebanon. .

bodhisattva.

The following is inscribed on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop in Westminster Abby (1100 A.D.) …

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.

But it, too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country, and who knows, I may have even changed the world.