3.11.24

Thought

There is a Zen story about how a single breath can free us from the confines of our intellectualizing and unite us with all creation. Tokusan was a brilliant scripture scholar who went to study with Zen Master Ryutan. One night as Tokusan was leaving to go home to bed after a long evening of discussion, he noticed that it was pitch black outside. Zen Master Ryutan lit a lantern and handed it to Tokusan. Just as Tokusan reached for the lantern, Ryutan blew it out. In that moment, Tokusan experienced enlightenment and bowed in gratitude. Tokusan realized that he was not dependent upon words and teachings to light the way for him. Even in times of darkness, he could experience his essential nature directly and be a lamp unto himself.

With a single puff of air from the Zen master’s mouth, Tokusan saw what he had not been able to see up until then. All of his scripture study and discussion had not communicated what a single breath of air communicated to him. Tokusan directly experienced that awakening is not dependent on intellectual grasping. The next day Tokusan gathered all of his commentaries on the scriptures into a huge pile and burned them. He told the group assembled there that intellectual speculation is like gasping at straws and can't compare to the vastness of direct experience. The direct experience of a single breath unites us with all creation.

— Ellen Birx. Healing Zen.

Quote 

Author and naturalist John Muir on the majesty of existence:

When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty.

Moment of Gratitude 

I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with you and contemplate new ideas every week.  

What are you grateful for?

Happy Monday,

Val