The Best
One day Banzan was walking through a market. He overheard a customer say to the butcher, "Give me the best piece of meat you have." "Everything in my shop is the best," replied the butcher. "You can not find any piece of meat that is not the best." At these words, Banzan was enlightened. (Zen story)
I've had quite a bit of internal turmoil the last few days and have been prone to grumpiness. I don't know what it is exactly - there are a lot of changes, transitions, and uncertainties going on in my life right now (new boss, deciding what to do with my music career, thinking through next life steps, etc.) so that is most likely what it is.
The thing I have to remember is that every piece of meat is the best. Uncertainty, confusion, grumpiness, failure, anxiety - are not bad (therefore causing more mental suffering) - they are simply one side of the Spirit coin that has to be a part of life in order for it to be life.
When I can really see that even the darkness is light (samsara is nirvana) - that's a marvelous place to find myself.
Category:
general spirituality,
zen
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7 comments:
Thanks Trev-
I needed this post.
I've been going through a similar period. Thanks for this.
Trev,
You definitely aren't alone. Thanks for the comment and for this posting. However, what we are both going through is necessary. Suffering is the mechanism to force us forward. Suffering can be a crucible. Lincoln suffered greatly, yet, his suffering helped him be one of our best Presidents. The introspection helped him. Van Gogh suffered as well, yet, his paintings are now great treasures. Suffering brings out our treasures or it kills us. How paradoxical is that?
I see our turmoil, fear of the unknown, and the generally "nasty" bits of our lives as the 'spice' that provides the contrast for the good bits.
Otherwise, our lives would be so bland!
Time will take you past this.
it's pretty great how humans think up zillions of ways to carve the block up, then writhe in agony trying to decide which knife to use.
"In the light there is darkness,
but don't take it as darkness;
In the dark there is light,
but don't see it as light.
Light and dark oppose one another
like the front and back foot in walking."
From "Sandokai"
by Sekito Kisen
These lines speak to me when I think the same as you are. Thought I'd go ahead and share.
or, rather, as opposed to deciding which knife to use, what and how much one chooses to carve determines how often the knife needs resharpened.
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