Zen Speaks

One of the great books I have in my collection, this award winning children's story about a bear named Stillwater is a must read. A Caldecott Honour Book, it tells about three life questions and stories answered through short Zen principles.

In the author's note, he mentioned that "Zen shorts" often challenge us to reexamine our habits, desires, concepts, and fears. The three stories Uncle Ry and the Moon, A Heavy Load, and The Farmer's Luck were chosen among many because they speak best to the youngest audience.

My favorite is the one of A Heavy Load:

Two travelling monks reached a town where there was a young woman waiting to step out of her sedan chair. The rains had made puddles and she couldn't step across without spoiling her silken robes. She stood there, looking very cross and impatient. She was scolding her attendants. They had nowhere to place the packages they held for her, so they couldn't help her across the puddle.

The younger monk noticed the woman, said nothing, and walked by. The older monk quickly picked her up and put her on his back, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other side. She didn't thank the older monk, she just shoved him out of the way and departed.

As they continued on their way, the young monk was brooding and preoccupied. After several hours, unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. "That woman back there was very selfish and rude, but you picked her up on your back and carried her! Then she didn't even thank you!"

"I set the woman down hours ago," the older monk replied. "Why are you still carrying her?"

When I am cross about some things, I have a tendency to bring it everywhere and this is not a good thing. There are also some issues I carry till now that happened decades ago. I need to let go and be more forgiving and learn to forget. I am sharing this short story not for me to bring a change in my perspective and yours in a matter of five minutes but as a reminder that there should be a needed change in our hearts.

We should learn to forgive and be more giving. We should learn to support and be more active. With all the worldly affairs and misfortunes, be ready to admit our love, our fears, our sorrows and joys, and our misgivings now so that we won't be late in receiving forgiveness as well as love and in feeling the generous joy when we live in peace.