What is the sound of one hand clapping? This is one of the most important Koans given to students of Enlightenment. I have a couple of ideas about it I want to share. I don’t know for sure, you know, but it seems to me that the answer is obvious. First… what’s the sound of …
Author Archives: Zareen
Simplicity in Prayer
In the end the thing that really matters is Simplicity. That’s what this story from yesterday is talking about. The Mystic is simply living out on the lake. The priests and the bishops come and try to teach him how to pray correctly, when he was out there just simply one with nature, one with …
Ask for nothing when you pray
Ask for nothing when you pray. If you get that you’ll be dancing with roses.
Praying on the Lake
Okay. So there was this lake way out in the wilds. And in the middle of the lake was a small island. People started hearing rumors that there was this amazing Mystic living on this island, a holy man. The church fathers heard about it and they were concerned. They decided they’d better go check …
Which Nothing?
it’s so easy to turn nothing into something. Our mind automatically does it. Like … which nothing are you talking about? The nothing over there? Or the nothing over there?
Competition and Power
So many Zen stories are trying to warn us that spirituality can be turned into a competition, into a power play even. That’s certainly what we have going on in in our last story. Mulla Nasrudine is saying, “Look who thinks he’s nothing!” How can this beggar think he’s nothing when nothing is the great …
Look Who’s Nothing
So. Mulla Nasrudine was a saintly and pious man. He went one day to the mosque, and went inside pray. He goes up to the front and he kneels down and he prays with great reverence, “Oh Holy One. I am nothing next to you. I am nothing, and yet I offer you this prayer.” …
This Week’s Newsletter
All About Elephants and Monkeys Published: Sat, 05/13/23 This week we have a few stories about perception. Our minds are fabulous because we see things, hear things, and then make conclusions. It’s good to keep in mind that what we are seeing and hearing is only partial. We remain wise if keep our conclusions fluid. Once …