RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories

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RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/10/2008 9:48:06 PM

artemis611

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I keep coming back to the idea of "tied up cats," it's easy for me to see "tied up cats" in organizations and institutions, but I seem to have blind spots at seeing my own (as I imagine most of us do). But I think I found one and feel compelled to share it. It's not so much something I've made "sacred," but it's a long held belief based on fear, and the story I told myself about it became very rigid and I gave it a lot of power.

My parents are getting quite elderly, and I've been fearing the day I would have to take care of one or both of them, unable to see how it could be done. I had this whole story about the numerous reasons it couldn't be done, and didn't know what I would do. This week my father was ill, he's better now but at the time it was looking like I was going to have to take one of those first steps and speak with his doctor, which just got my whole head going to the impossible future. After visiting him, I was so anxious I spent some time just trying to breathe and center myself, and over the course of just a few minutes, those old beliefs about what was possible or impossible seemed to fall away a little at a time. I realized it's not impossible. Challenging, yes, but by no means impossible. When the time comes, it will take adjustments, but I can do this. My father, in particular, will resist, but I needn't fear that the way I have. It might be a transformative experience for me, and most of my life I've fought those (at least initially). What would happen if I embrace this and let it change things, and change me? I have a feeling I might be finding out soon. Thanks for letting me share that "tied up cat."

Love,
Lori

_____________________________

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Post #: 101

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/10/2008 10:24:23 PM

Hildegard

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Dear Lori, I think I can understand much of the "tied up cat" of fear in regard to your parents' anticipated needs. Thank you for sharing your tought about this with us.
At first the idea of taking care totally of another person seems overwhelming. I had a few lessons this past year. Last year Easter, when Leon fractured his hip joint, he spent quite some time in the hospital. I realized then and there that life would never be the same. I kept wondering how I would manage. The day the ambulance brought him home and he and I were alone in the house, I felt somewhat anxious wondering if I had thought of everything needed. I had to take it day by day, and after a while, I felt pretty competent caring for Leon without much outside help. The things I needed to do I had not learned in Medical School! Had you asked me a year ago if I could do this I would have very much doubted it. I learned that I have many more inner resources than I had realized. I think this would be true of you as well. Fear lets our imagination run wild and "ties us up". I think also that we have to be patient with ourselves. Letting go of fear is far easier said than done!

To untying our "tied up cats"!

Much love,
Edda

_____________________________

Peace and joy!

Post #: 102

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/10/2008 10:58:17 PM

zenmember

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From: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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To Lori, Edda and our "tied up cats";

Firstly, I never in my wildest dreams would have picked this story to get so much mileage. I'm guessing that in it's simplicity, it has wide appeal.

Secondly, if we take a step back and re-read the comments that it has triggered; we realize that we are all talking about living in the moment, now, here, presence, awareness, being centered; whatever you wish to call it. The present moment is all we have and usually there is no problem within it that we cannot attend to. Just remember to keep breathing, as in be aware of what you are feeling/experiencing, hold on to your inner space, do not give credence to the toughts that arise. You are not your thoughts!! Lori, that is what you are telling us you experienced is it not; "those old beliefs about what was possible or impossible seemed to fall away a little at a time."

from The Lamp of Wisdom:

"Free from self will, with detached intellect,
They are aware of the self, even with their hands at work.
Neither afraid of the world nor making the world afraid,
They are free of greed, anger and fear."

best regards, rj

Post #: 103

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/11/2008 10:50:48 PM

artemis611

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Edda and Richard, thanks so much for your responses. I think that needing to stay in the moment is exactly what is at work here; and this morning as I re-read your previous post, Richard, about holding the constant, I thought of why my thinking was able to start shifting. I realized that a lot of what I feared was being in the "adult" position with my parents, while they've always kept me childlike in their minds. (My parents appear to be the only people I know who see me as incompetent, which I know is much more about them than it is about me.) "Holding the constant" is about being at peace with all because of "knowing who I am," and knowing that if I must give up some of what I "do" to make space for my parents, it doesn't compromise who I "am." (Thought I'd done battle with that demon long ago, but here it is again.) I have noticed a shift in my interactions with them also, being able to just listen and attend and NOT feel compromised by their view of me. It doesn't matter what they think of me. I want to be the kind of person who takes care of her parents. My ego needn't get in the way.

Edda, thanks for sharing your experiences with Leon, it helps me remember I'm not the only one in this boat. Many have gone before me and survived!

Richard, thanks for your wisdom, as always.

Love and hugs,
Lori

_____________________________

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Post #: 104

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/11/2008 10:50:50 PM

Imenuff

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Lori,thank you for sharing about one of your "tied up cats." It is always amazing to me how the one bible statement "the truth shall set you free" is such a gift. It is always so much easier to avoid and hold onto a fear than it is to face them. It is one of those things that I always look forward to with dread (lol) about a private nine day directed retreat. Usually there are so many "tied up cats" that are set free, many of which I would have avoided looking at but am always glad I couldn't. It is amazing how much we are capable of when the time comes. Perhaps that is the gift of getting older, as one reflects back and so clearly sees all those "tied up cats" that either life or another individual helped me untie, I am amazed at how I ever got through it. When my parents were where yours are now, with my father I had a two year old and with my mother, in the beginning stages of her care, they were eight and four. I have no doubts that if and when the time comes, you will rise to the challenge. There will be many times where you will just stop to breathe and center yourself, but life has a way of working itself out when we allow it. Prayers continue for you and your two choir friends. May you be blessed as you walk with them during these difficult times.

_____________________________

Shalom(May you be at peace in Body, Mind,& Spirit)

I'menuff

Post #: 105

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/11/2008 11:14:49 PM

artemis611

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Betty, thanks for your words of support. I can't imagine how you did it with such small children. I'm really glad to be relieved of this particular "tied up cat." I liked what you said about how "either life or another individual" helped you untie some of yours. I find that I've often needed to be "suffering" enough to see things differently, if that makes any sense. Though I think that's changing. When it came to thinking about taking care of my parents, I needed (among other things) to shift priorities to see things differently. And I think I needed a good role model. I've recently become acquainted with a woman who's taking care of her parents in some very creative ways. Maybe the possibilities worked their way into my psyche. Either way, some of the answers came to me when I really needed them.

Love and hugs,
Lori

_____________________________

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Post #: 106

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/13/2008 7:44:31 AM

zenmember

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A monk set off on a long pilgrimage to find the Buddha. He devoted many years to his search until he finally reached the land where the Buddha was said to live. While crossing the river to this country, the monk looked around as the boatman rowed. He noticed something floating towards them. As it got closer, he realized that it was the corpse of a person. When it drifted so close that he could almost touch it, he suddenly recognized the dead body - it was his own! He lost all control and wailed at the sight of himself, still and lifeless, drifting along the river's currents. That moment was the beginning of his liberation.

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Post #: 107

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/13/2008 3:58:33 PM

Hildegard

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Richard, this story is quite a challenge. It seems this man has an out of body experience. Perhaps along his pilgrimage he was stripped of everything dead in him and now he sees the "dead self" floating by; he wails because it is painful to let it go, but as he does he discovers the Buddha he has been searching for in himself.

Isn't liberation the letting go of all the "dead" stuff that ties us up so that the "true self" is set free???

Edda

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Peace and joy!

Post #: 108

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/13/2008 8:54:15 PM

zenmember

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Let me get this straight, are we still talking about
"tied up cats?"

pretty much falls into line, doesn't it.

Post #: 109

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/13/2008 9:15:13 PM

Hildegard

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Richard, yes, it seems all "tied" together!

How do you understand this story?

Edda

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Peace and joy!

Post #: 110

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/13/2008 10:47:44 PM

Imenuff

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Richard, perhaps it is the order in which both stories were posted. It just seems that the monk's devoting many years to his search to find the Budda was his own personal "tied up cat." Finding the Budda seems to be hold the same type of religious significance as tying up the cat. It is so much easier to attempt to find our answers and solutions outside ourselves than to look inward. As Shakespeare so aptly wrote--"The fault, dear Brutus, lies not within our stars but within ourselves."

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Shalom(May you be at peace in Body, Mind,& Spirit)

I'menuff

Post #: 111

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/14/2008 9:07:45 AM

zenmember

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The monk in the story confuses the living Buddha with the true Buddhahood within himself. To interpret this I turn to the opening verse of the Issa Upanishad. I realize there are Christian, Islamic and Buddhist scriptures which relate this concept as well but, this is the first that comes to mind.
" The lord is enshrined in the hearts of all.
The lord is the true reality.
Rejoice in him through renunciation,
Covet nothing for all belongs to the lord.
Thus working may you live a hundred years,
Thus alone, can you work in total freedom."
My understanding of this story at this stage in my existance is that each of us is pure spirit; that spark of life energy that we all share in common within the universe. Our self image is the manufactured version of who we are as posited by our ego; which possibly bears no true relationship with who we are. Upon realizing this we symbolicly separate from that little voice in our head to discover our true self and essentially kill our ego. This is symbolized by what the monk saw as his his dead human remains in the river of life. We immediately experience a response to this loss which we assume to be lost opportunities/potential. When, in actual fact we can begin again from pure spirit to take a position of awareness and enjoy each and every moment of our true potential going forward.

_____________________________

"We must be the change we want to see in this world."

Please light a Candle in the "zendo"

Post #: 112

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/18/2008 11:48:02 AM

zenmember

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Today, a departure from John Suler's stories to take a look at an interesting picture with a story

enjoy, rj

Post #: 113

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/19/2008 9:24:31 PM

artemis611

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I like that!

_____________________________

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Post #: 114

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/31/2008 7:35:08 AM

zenmember

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A student went to his meditation teacher and said, "My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I'm constantly falling asleep. It's just horrible!"
"It will pass," the teacher said matter-of-factly.
A week later, the student came back to his teacher. "My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It's just wonderful!'
"It will pass," the teacher replied matter-of-factly.

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Post #: 115

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/31/2008 8:40:58 AM

Hildegard

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This story illustrates an important point. One should stay with one's practice no matter how it feels on a particular day. It is not about feeling but about faithfulness and discipline.

This reminds me of St. Teresa of Avila talking about some sisters who stayed away from communal prayer because they had a headache, were having one or might get one!

Edda

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Peace and joy!

Post #: 116

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 3/31/2008 8:34:14 PM

artemis611

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To me this story reflects the realities of impermanence. Everything (comfort/discomfort, sorrow/joy) passes, everything's in process.

Lori

_____________________________

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Post #: 117

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 4/10/2008 7:55:36 AM

zenmember

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Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The first monk said, "Oh, no! The candle is out." The second monk said, "Aren't we not suppose to talk?" The third monk said, "Why must you two break the silence?" The fourth monk laughed and said, "Ha! I'm the only one who didn't speak."

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"We must be the change we want to see in this world."

Please light a Candle in the "zendo"

Post #: 118

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 4/10/2008 1:20:22 PM

Gaia

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The monks in this story seem to be looking to each other for enlightenment, not to the candle within their own heart. That candle never goes out.

We read that the candle went out on the very first day, so the monks did not have enough time to leave the "group" space with the other monks and enter their own private, sacred space.

So often in life I make a resolve to do something, but then I look at what others think, and if they say conditions aren't right (the candle is not lit) I go along with them, rather than continuing with my own resolve.

I love this story. I am a new member and I am finding wisdom everywhere here.

Gaia

Post #: 119

RE: Some enlightening Zen Stories - 4/10/2008 8:30:41 PM

zenmember

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Welcome to the forum, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Please read back on this thread to see other stories and read other people's reactions to the stories.

gassho, rj

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"We must be the change we want to see in this world."

Please light a Candle in the "zendo"

Post #: 120