I borrowed this book from my dad called "365 Zen: daily readings" Of course I dont read one passage a day but read thru it skimming some and devouring others.
This one I just read jumps out at me today. I mean in todays world where it seems there is alot of hate for either Islamic terrorist/exremists French toast, and yes also for Imeprialist Americans and now on TV late at night I get several channels of the evangalists calling every news story, even a simple car convention in detroit( yeah, I was like??? whats he smoking I want some) , a sign that the apocalypse is near...
so I thought this story was appropriate about a visit to heaven and a visit to hell. In both places the visitor saw many people seated at a table on which many delicious foods were laid out. Chopsticks over a meter long were tied to their right hands, while their left hands were tied to their chairs. In hell, however much they stretched out their arms, the chopsticks were too long for them to get food into their mouths . They grew impatient and got their hands and chopsticks tangled with one another's. The delicacies were scatted here and there.
In heaven on the other hand people happily used the long chopsticks to pick out someone else's favortie food and feed it to him, and in turn they were fed by others. They all enjoyed their meal in harmony.
~Shundo Aoyoma ,ZEN SEEDS
I wish Bush and the UN and the Iraqi people would understand this story. But alas I think that Bush's Christian fundamentalist leanings prbably make him blind to the wisdom contained in this story, and he thinks hell is where the evil islamic dictators go to, and the righteous christians get heaven all to themselves.
Then I think where have I been like Bush?
I then realize I too have been selfish and therefore ruined the table for evryone else by being greedy and I resolve that tomorrow I will try to be MORE giving be MORE patient and MORE compassionate than I was today.
How were you selfish today? ( if you feel confessional, Or if you feel like spreading the love. How were you selfless?
I didnt go to easter dinner even though I was invited because I wnated to spend the time alone by myself.
It wont change the world I know. I took my roomates laundry out of the dryer and folded it nicely for him rather than throw it on his floor.
This one I just read jumps out at me today. I mean in todays world where it seems there is alot of hate for either Islamic terrorist/exremists French toast, and yes also for Imeprialist Americans and now on TV late at night I get several channels of the evangalists calling every news story, even a simple car convention in detroit( yeah, I was like??? whats he smoking I want some) , a sign that the apocalypse is near...
so I thought this story was appropriate about a visit to heaven and a visit to hell. In both places the visitor saw many people seated at a table on which many delicious foods were laid out. Chopsticks over a meter long were tied to their right hands, while their left hands were tied to their chairs. In hell, however much they stretched out their arms, the chopsticks were too long for them to get food into their mouths . They grew impatient and got their hands and chopsticks tangled with one another's. The delicacies were scatted here and there.
In heaven on the other hand people happily used the long chopsticks to pick out someone else's favortie food and feed it to him, and in turn they were fed by others. They all enjoyed their meal in harmony.
~Shundo Aoyoma ,ZEN SEEDS
I wish Bush and the UN and the Iraqi people would understand this story. But alas I think that Bush's Christian fundamentalist leanings prbably make him blind to the wisdom contained in this story, and he thinks hell is where the evil islamic dictators go to, and the righteous christians get heaven all to themselves.
Then I think where have I been like Bush?
I then realize I too have been selfish and therefore ruined the table for evryone else by being greedy and I resolve that tomorrow I will try to be MORE giving be MORE patient and MORE compassionate than I was today.
How were you selfish today? ( if you feel confessional, Or if you feel like spreading the love. How were you selfless?
I didnt go to easter dinner even though I was invited because I wnated to spend the time alone by myself.
It wont change the world I know. I took my roomates laundry out of the dryer and folded it nicely for him rather than throw it on his floor.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
next semester i'm going to be taking a buddhism class. i'm really excited to learn more about it because i think that there are a lot of things that i can apply to my life.