Two short Zen stories for reflection to grow in Wisdom

1. St o r y To
Refl e c t
Up o n 7 5
Working Very Hard
A martial arts student went to his teacher and said
earnestly, "I am devoted to studying your martial system.
How long will it take me to master it?" The teacher's reply
was casual, "Ten years." Impatiently, the student answered,
"But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very
hard. I will practice everyday, ten or more hours a day if I
have to. How long will it take then?" The teacher thought for
a moment, "20 years."
Reflections From People's Comments
* "The student is too eager. The master is trying to tell him
that he needs to learn patience first."
* "Sometimes, if you try too hard, you just get in your own
way. It makes you anxious, which just blocks
understanding. Some things have to develop naturally, by
themselves."
* "You can't rush true learning. You have to take it one step
at a time."
* "Live for the moment. Don't rush things and worry so
much about later. Let it flow. I would tell this story to those
Type-A personalities who are always pushing in life."
* "The master is trying to tell the student to slow down,
experience life, be self-aware. "
* "People always want to get things over with as quick as
possible. They want to accomplish everything yesterday!"

2. Story To
Reflect Upon 76
It Will Pass
A student went to his meditation teacher and said, "My
meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache,
or I'm constantly falling asleep. It's just horrible!"
"It will pass," the teacher said matter-of-factly.
A week later, the student came back to his teacher. "My
meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so
alive! It's just wonderful!'
"It will pass," the teacher replied matter-of-factly.
Reflections From People's Comments
* "It is true that the only constant in life is change."
* "Everyone's life including their spiritual life has its ups and downs
but they pass. All one can hope for when the spiritual is in a down is to
keep it where it is until one can progress further."
* "The wise teacher knows that life has its own cycles. There are good
days and bad days."
* "At times we feel bad and at times we feel good - that is life whether
you are meditating or not."
* "Do not get caught up in the "good and bad" or any of the dualities of
life because it is all temporary."
* "Even the stone at the river's edge experiences inevitable change, the
warmth from the sun, the coolness of the snow, the erosion of the
water. Nothing remains constant and we must always be prepared to
adapt to the current conditions. "
* "In the language of the Buddha (Pali): 'Anicca, anicca, anicca.'
'Change, change, change.' At every moment there is change, there is
nothing permanent, there is Nothing to hold onto. No wonder in Zen
awareness is the key! Who knows what change will bring?"
* "This story demonstrates the impermanence of ALL things. Do not
become attached to your bad feelings or to your good feelings for
that matter. They are both equal in the fact they will both come
to an end. Just experience things."

3. Don’t Wait For The Brick
Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the little boy push his
wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was
a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very
noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side
door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message:
Don’t go through life so fast that someone has to throw a
brick at you to get your attention!
Reflection
* So many people today in a fast- moving world have
become so busy pursuing their career, fame and glory and
material wealth that they hardly have time to pause, ponder
and reflect on the meaning and purpose of life.
* So many have become less and less aware of or sensitive
to the untold plight and suffering of so many unfortunate
ones. We have become more self- centered and caught up in
sensual pursuits for the pleasure of ourselves.
* Isn't it important in this short and uncertain life of ours to
do the little that we can to reach out to others ... to bring
some joy and happiness to so many unfortunate ones.
* One would have lived a life well, a life with meaning if one
lives by the maxim :
"SERVE TO BE PERFECT. ( This is the Compassion
aspect of Dhamma practice )
BE PERFECT TO SERVE." ( This is the Wisdom
aspect of Dhamma practice.)
* Doing Dana or charity is of utmost importance in the
Spiritual Path.
* One needs to develop or purify the mind ( essentially
through Meditation ) concurrently with the outreach
work. Otherwise one may be 'burnt out' ...one cannot
truly grow spiritually .