nirbhao

the tarot I have is a transformation tarot by OSHO. it is based on Sufi, Buddhist, and Christian parables to bring positive change in the day to day life.

recently I pulled the gratitude card. and I don't have my book here-- I'm not even on my own computer-- but it knocked me back a bit at the time and I thought it would be good to share this Thanksgiving (whether your country celebrates it or not).

the parable goes that a woman zen master (and yes, it was a rarity for a woman to be a zen master) entered a village that was not friendly to zen. she asked for shelter but no one was willing to put her up. somewhat discouraged, she found a place to rest that was reasonably safe near a tree and went to sleep.

near midnight, the woman woke up because of the cold. she looked up and saw the most beautiful sight. the sky was completely clear but the moon was full and shining brightly. it was so bright, in fact, that the cherry blossoms on the tree she was under had opened to the light. the zen master began laughing. what a beautiful sight to wake up to! if the villagers had given her shelter, she would have awoken to a plain wooden ceiling-- how boring! instead, because of their refusal, the earth shared a beautiful gift with her.