When a cup of water is muddy, we have to put it down and wait for a while. It has to stay still as the dirty part would slowly sink into the bottom. Little by little, water gets transparent. And eventually, we could see a cup of clean water. It looks calm and serene. It … Continue reading Festina Lente
Tag: #Mindfulness
When You Walk, Walk
One time disciples asked the Buddha what could be the best practice to lead them to the complete peace of mind. They thought they would have to go through various challenges believing only such hardship could bring them to a supreme state. The Buddha’s answer, however, was counterintuitive. For example, one of the well-known Zen … Continue reading When You Walk, Walk
One Thing At A Time
Lao Tzu said: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. It is from chapter 64 of Tao Te Ching, and one of the three similar statements. All three go this way: A tree that fills a man’s embrace grows from a seedling.A tower nine stories high starts with one brick.A journey … Continue reading One Thing At A Time
Happiness is the Way
Thich Nhat Hanh’s well-known quote is this: There is no way to happiness; happiness is the way. We tend to believe that the ideal world is somewhere far away from here and now. Our life is a long path to reach this special goal. As far as the Hero’s Journey is concerned, this perspective is … Continue reading Happiness is the Way
Breathing, the Third Eye
There are various kinds of meditation in Buddhism. Well-known is a sitting meditation called Zazen (座禅) in Japanese. Sitting straight, we focus on subtle movements of breathing in and out, noticing our diaphragm. Traditionally, we call this breathing technique Zuisokukan (随息観). Zui (随) means to follow. Soku (息) for breathing, and Kan (観) for observing … Continue reading Breathing, the Third Eye
Wind Blows, Water Flows
The Eightfold Path has eight practices. These are Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. And the last two practices are more for meditation. Right Mindfulness is well-known. So-called mindfulness meditation has become part of the mainstream practice for stress management and quality of life. … Continue reading Wind Blows, Water Flows
Like Water, Like a Rock
The Noble Eightfold Path can be divided into three divisions. The first division covers the right view and right resolve, which could be how we see the world and ourselves. The second is for the right speech, right action, and right livelihood, which could be our applications for ethical virtues. And the third is for … Continue reading Like Water, Like a Rock
