A Zen
Master lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a
mountain. One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked into the hut only to
find there was nothing in it to steal. The Zen
Master returned and found him. "You have come a long way to visit me," he told
the prowler, "and you should not return empty handed. Please take my clothes as
a gift." The thief was bewildered, but he took the clothes and ran away.
The
Master sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, " I wish I could
give him this beautiful moon."
The greatest achievement is selflessness. The greatest worth is
self-mastery. The greatest quality is seeking to serve others. The
greatest precept is continual awareness. The greatest medicine is the
emptiness of everything. The greatest action is not conforming with the
worlds ways. The greatest magic is transmuting the passions. The
greatest generosity is non-attachment. The greatest goodness is a peaceful
mind. The greatest patience is humility. The greatest effort is not
concerned with results. The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
After a heavy snowfall the more rigid
branches of the pine break under the weight of the snow, but the more
supple willow branches bend, thus allowing the snow to fall to the
ground.
The purpose of a fishtrap is to catch fish, and when the fish are caught, the
trap is forgotten. The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.
When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten. The purpose of words
is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.
Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to
talk to.