Posts Tagged → awakening

the length of a person’s life


 

The Buddha asked a monk,

“How do you measure the length of a person’s life?”

The monk answered, “By days.” The Buddha

said, “You do not understand

the Way.”

 

The Buddha asked another monk,

“How do you measure the length of a person’s life?”

The monk answered, “By the time that passes during

a meal.” The Buddha said, “You do not

understand the Way.”

 

The Buddha asked a third monk,

“How do you measure the length of a person’s life?”

The monk answered, “By the breath.”

The Buddha said, “Very well,

you know the Way.”

 

Sutra of Forty Two Chapters

full text translated by D.T. Suzuki

 

the reality is that we are safe

wholly absorbed in the breath

 

When we’re holding

the mental formations of despair

and suffering, we can look and see that 

this has been born from that; suffering is born

because we are in touch with an image from

the past. The reality is that we are safe,

and we have the capacity to enjoy

the wonders of life in the

present moment.

 

When we recognize

that our suffering is based on images

instead of current reality, then living happily

in the present moment becomes

possible right away.

 

Thich Nhat Hanh

no use fretting over gold

spring will come again

 

No use fretting over gold, beauty, or fame;

Nurturing these, how can we calm our

Fluttering heart?

Non-attachment brings deep truth,

And a truthful nature brings immortality.

Empty your heart.

Sit quietly on a mat.

In meditation we become one with All;

Tao billows like the vapors in a mountain valley,

And its supernatural power wafts into our soul.

 

Loy Ching-yuen

within us there is another beauty