Jump to content
Gibson Brands Forums

Zen Koan for the day


Del Nilppeznaf

Recommended Posts

No Attachment to Dust

 

 

 

 

Zengetsu, a Chinese master of the T'ang dynasty, wrote the following advice for his pupils:

 

Living in the world yet not forming attachments to the dust of the world is the way of a true Zen student.

 

When witnessing the good action of another encourage yourself to follow his example. Hearing of the mistaken action of another, advise yourself not to emulate it.

 

Even though alone in a dark room, be as if you were facing a noble guest. Express your feelings, but become no more expressive than your true nature.

 

Poverty is your treasure. Never exchange it for an easy life.

 

A person may appear a fool and yet not be one. He may only be guarding his wisdom carefully.

 

Virtues are the fruit of self-discipline and do not drop from heaven of themselves as does rain or snow.

 

Modesty is the foundation of all virtues. Let your neighbors discover you before you make yourself known to them.

 

A noble heart never forces itself forward. Its words are as rare gems, seldom displayed and of great value.

 

To a sincere student, every day is a fortunate day. Time passes but he never lags behind. Neither glory nor shame can move him.

 

Censure yourself, never another. Do not discuss right and wrong.

 

Some things, though right, were considered wrong for generations. Since the value of righteousness may be recognized after centuries, there is no need to crave an immediate appreciation.

 

Live with cause and leave results to the great law of the universe. Pass each day in peaceful contemplation.

 

 

 

 

AND

 

As Zimmy Dylan say's

 

Today is Friday

 

Let's see what it brings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a good un people.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poverty is your treasure. Never exchange it for an easy life.

 

Couldn't disagree more... Poverty is nothing to treasure. It is however a common train of thought in religions and other forms of oppression such as heavy handed government. Couldn't be dealing with it myself.

 

Pass each day in peaceful contemplation.

 

You wont get too much peaceful contemplation while living in poverty either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Couldn't disagree more... Poverty is nothing to treasure. It is however a common train of thought in religions and other forms of oppression such as heavy handed government. Couldn't be dealing with it myself.

 

 

 

You wont get too much peaceful contemplation while living in poverty either.

 

HeHe

 

well what to expect from a Banker !

 

You miss the point PM..these insights where written for Monks..Zen Buddhist Monks..... who live lives of extreme poverty..through Choice.

 

It is still a widely followed tradition in the East for successful business men upon reaching a certain age, to give up all their riches and become traveling seekers with nothing more than a blanket and begging bowl.

 

they don't do it for the craic PM..they do it to find peace...and hopefully enlightenment.

 

lastly it has been proven...or so it seems..that cultures / countries/ peoples in extreme poverty around the globe...are significantly h' Happier' than us in the west obsessed with wealth / material goods. the slums within India..which i have visited..are a classic example of this... the people are happy and a very strong community spirit and well being exist in these places..

 

Makes you think...no !!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

well what to expect from a Banker !

 

Not at all, I don't in any way believe the special 2% should own/control more than 90% of the worlds wealth, but you change absolutely nothing by standing outside with a placard, mate.

 

You miss the point PM

 

No, I got the point, Del, just saying I don't share it. If I did and followed it, I'd be just another beggar with a story and some beliefs being ignored by others down at the train/bus station. As it is I'm able to support projects I believe in, help folk and animals who I think could use a wee bit of support. Couldn't do any of it if I was skint.

 

It is still a widely followed tradition in the East.

 

So is infanticide, corruption, rape, murder and so on......

 

they don't do it for the craic PM..they do it to find peace...and hopefully enlightenment.

 

I'll take my chances.......

 

lastly it has been proven...or so it seems..that cultures / countries/ peoples in extreme poverty around the globe...are significantly h' Happier' than us in the west obsessed with wealth / material goods. the slums within India..which i have visited..are a classic example of this... the people are happy and a very strong community spirit and well being exist in these places..

 

Makes you think...no !!!

 

It does, unfortunately for a large majority of wealth seekers, their purpose is just to amass the wealth, they quite often come to a halt with reasonable ideas for what to do with it. A man with ideas will get a lot further with his good intentions if he's well heeled than if he's imparting witty repartee while asking for cash to buy a cheap can of lager from the Spar.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now is the time to explore the meanings of the word 'rich'...

 

One valid path in life is a balance of 'riches'

 

One big aspect of the 'N European' perception of richness is the 'need' for monetary wealth to have a chance of pursuing the other forms...

 

V

 

:-({|=

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now is the time to explore the meanings of the word 'rich'...

 

One valid path in life is a balance of 'riches'

 

One big aspect of the 'N European' perception of richness is the 'need' for monetary wealth to have a chance of pursuing the other forms...

 

V

 

:-({|=

 

There is a need for money to pursue , unless you decide you want to be a bus driver I suppose you could just steal one and in a way you have realised a dream.

 

And I'm not so sure pointing fingers at geographical regions is a great idea whether you have money or not

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just a tangent to this.But I'm reading a good novel on the interaction between the east and west."The 1000 autumns of Jacob de Zoet".Set in a Dutch trading outpost in Japan in 1800 when Japan was still shut off from the rest of the world. By David Mitchell who wrote Cloud Atlas.

Highly recommended for readers amongst us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A person may appear a fool and yet not be one. He may only be guarding his wisdom carefully.

 

More meat on these ones, Del.

Keep them comin'. . .

 

"He/she who did spend years in poverty, would should never go there again.

He/she who never knew poverty, should spend a year or two poor."

 

. . . . . . E-minor7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...