The mind, so easily snared. Opinions, so easily shared.
To be free from the pressures of others' subjective approvals and disapprovals it is useful to look at the story of Hakuin the Monk.
Living alone on the edge of the forest, he led a quiet, contemplative life. Study and meditation, chopping wood and carrying water.
One dark and cold winter evening, a knock on the door and, on opening, no one was to be seen, only a new born baby, wrapped in a blanket and asleep on the snow covered step.
A note was pinned to the child's clothing : "We know you are a kind old man. Please look after this child. We are unable to".
"Huh. Is that so?" he thought to himself and, taking the child in, Hakuin tended to his needs, feeding him, nursing to sleep and when leaving the hut, strapped him to his back as he sought out wood to cut for fires.
Days became weeks and no one came to claim the child. But, one afternoon a knock came and Hakuin was surprised to see an old friend, come to visit.
He made some tea and on sitting, the friend advised Hakuin that he was the subject of much gossip and discussion in the nearby village.
The fact that he was seen regularly with a baby on his back had stirred up the village and led to wild speculation in the cafes and market place.
Where did this baby come from? And to such an old man!
Hakuin though for a moment. "Is that so?" he said and drained his cup, smiling.
Some weeks travelled by and once more, a knock came. Standing in the snow was an elderly couple.
"We wish to thank you. We had to search for our missing daughter.
She ran away after giving birth because we pressured her to name the babies' father and she would not do it. .
But we now realise we do not care so much about that and, at last, we have found her.
She has come home. We are reunited. And we would like the baby back please.
We had no one to ask and we knew we could trust you and that you would take good care of him".
Hakuin reached to the crib he had made from wood and handed the bundle back to the couple.
"Is that so? " was all he said.
This is a nice example of maintaining inner balance in the face of external disturbances.
If Zen can be said to have any ambitions, it is cultivating inner serenity and calmness.
In turn, this allows the practitioner to remain objective and not get caught up in the tangled miasma of public discourse, opinions and other peoples 'judgements.
A good lesson for our times!
To be free from the pressures of others' subjective approvals and disapprovals it is useful to look at the story of Hakuin the Monk.
Living alone on the edge of the forest, he led a quiet, contemplative life. Study and meditation, chopping wood and carrying water.
One dark and cold winter evening, a knock on the door and, on opening, no one was to be seen, only a new born baby, wrapped in a blanket and asleep on the snow covered step.
A note was pinned to the child's clothing : "We know you are a kind old man. Please look after this child. We are unable to".
"Huh. Is that so?" he thought to himself and, taking the child in, Hakuin tended to his needs, feeding him, nursing to sleep and when leaving the hut, strapped him to his back as he sought out wood to cut for fires.
Days became weeks and no one came to claim the child. But, one afternoon a knock came and Hakuin was surprised to see an old friend, come to visit.
He made some tea and on sitting, the friend advised Hakuin that he was the subject of much gossip and discussion in the nearby village.
The fact that he was seen regularly with a baby on his back had stirred up the village and led to wild speculation in the cafes and market place.
Where did this baby come from? And to such an old man!
Hakuin though for a moment. "Is that so?" he said and drained his cup, smiling.
Some weeks travelled by and once more, a knock came. Standing in the snow was an elderly couple.
"We wish to thank you. We had to search for our missing daughter.
She ran away after giving birth because we pressured her to name the babies' father and she would not do it. .
But we now realise we do not care so much about that and, at last, we have found her.
She has come home. We are reunited. And we would like the baby back please.
We had no one to ask and we knew we could trust you and that you would take good care of him".
Hakuin reached to the crib he had made from wood and handed the bundle back to the couple.
"Is that so? " was all he said.
This is a nice example of maintaining inner balance in the face of external disturbances.
If Zen can be said to have any ambitions, it is cultivating inner serenity and calmness.
In turn, this allows the practitioner to remain objective and not get caught up in the tangled miasma of public discourse, opinions and other peoples 'judgements.
A good lesson for our times!