Saturday, March 16, 2013

Zen story: Forgotten Identity



                                     
Friends, please reflect on this old Zen story ….

Once a pilgrim mounted his horse and crossed formidable mountains and swift rivers seeking a famous wise man, in order to ask him how to find true enlightenment. After months of searching, the pilgrim located the teacher in a cave.
   
                                           

The Master listened to the question and said nothing. The seeker waited….

Finally, after hours of silence, the Master looked at the steed on which the pilgrim had arrived, and asked the pilgrim why he was not looking for a horse instead of enlightenment.

                                         

The pilgrim was surprised and said that, obviously he already had a horse. The Master just smiled and retreated into his cave….! He had given the answer.

Moral of the Story …..

This story is quite significant and packed with meaning.

The Master clearly indicated that, “You are already a Buddha. Why are you searching for it?”

Friends, this is the great declaration of all the religions. We have simply forgotten our own identity. We don’t know who we are. Hence all this seeking. It is impossible to find outside, hence the frustration.
                                  
Instead of seeking, one should just start looking at the reality as it is. This is the real meaning of Zen saying, ”Be here & now” ….Look in to the reality. In fact, nothing is missing, everything is already here. One should avoid creating an ideal, otherwise the ideal will mislead ….

Have Great Day Friends!
Sangeeta Hegde

                                         


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