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Life and Death – A Zen Story
Sadhguru narrates a short Zen story about Jingxuan and his master Liaoyi. Sadhguru tells is the essence of the story, "If one does not perceive life, how can he perceive what is death? Right now you are alive.....There is no such thing as death. It is only life."
October 9, 2020
In a Mustard Seed – A Zen Story
This is a short Zen story from the Tang dynasty, about a man named Li Bo, who loved to study. Sadhguru explains the essence of this story - "…when you are truly meditative, there is no time and space for you."
September 14, 2020
The Right Guru – A Zen Story
Sadhguru narrates a short Zen story. He explains the hidden message in it. Normally, we choose friends who will support our limitations. But when you seek a spiritual master, you should be willing to break your limitations. You don't seek a master to hear pleasant things about yourself. Sadhguru says - "Guru or a master is there to destroy the falsehood in you."
August 6, 2020
How to attain enlightenment?
A Zen student went about claiming he has attained 'Enlightened' as he has embraced nothingness and is totally empty from within. The Zen master quickly brought him to his senses. It is irresponsible for people to speak as to what is 'enlightenment' or define 'enlightenment' because unscrupulous people will pick up these words and try to deceive someone or more importantly, people will delude themselves with such ideas and start hallucinating.
July 19, 2020
Learning Zen from a Dog – A Zen Story
Sadhguru narrates a short Zen story, when in response to a disciples question, the master replies "Learn from that Dog". The disciple is disappointed, what can one learn from a dog, he says - "You are making fun of me, Master. What can I learn from a dog? All it does is eat, sleep and reproduce. I have come in search of you only to become free from that.". Sadhguru explains, we are not even fully involved in the basic activity of eating and sleeping. He says - "When you eat, you are thinking about home, when you are at home you are thinking about work, when you are at work you are thinking about travel, when you are travelling you are thinking about when you can sleep, when you go to sleep you are thinking about something else. Your whole life rolls on like this."
May 18, 2020
The Best Place to Be – A Zen Story
A new disciple asked his widely traveled Zen master, "You have been to many places in the world. Which is the best place in the summer? Which is the best place during monsoon? Which is the best place to go during the winter?" The master kept walking in the rain and said, "If you really want to be in the best place, you must go to the place where there is no summer, rain or winter!" Sadhguru explains the message in this short zen story, that the master is trying to give to his disciple.
March 26, 2020
These are Bamboos – A Zen Story
This is a Zen story about a man longing to reach higher states like Budha, and going in search of a master. After a steep climb, he finds the master at the top of a mountain. The master shows him some bamboo vegetation and asks him a couple of questions, and then leaves. Sadhguru explains, that the conclusions we draw from our five senses are always in comparison to something else. If one wants to perceive life, then one has to move beyond the five sense perceptions.
February 28, 2020
Nothing to Get – A Zen Story
This is a zen story about a disciple of the sixth Zen sect who joined a monastery called Kaaksi. Sadhguru explains that what this story is trying to tell is that, realization or enlightenment is not trying to get hold of something, rather realizing what is there already. For that, first you must realize that you do not know. Sadhguru says - "Only if you know that you do not know, you will start longing to know that which you do not know. Now, the possibility of knowing the unknown will arise".
January 21, 2020
Of Laughter and Enlightenment – A Zen Story
This is an interesting Zen story, where a disciple gets enlightened when the master laughs! Sadhguru explains that there is a deep connection between Zen and laughter. In fact, he says, that anyone who has attained a certain state within himself, they can laugh at everything. Sadhguru narrates an amusing incident from his life, when he started laughing loudly when a few volunteers escaped death from an accident! He says - "One who has lost his laughter has lost everything. This is what the Zen master demonstrated to his disciple".
December 19, 2019
The Path to Nirvana – A Zen Story
Sadhguru narrates the Zen story of a disciple searching for the 'direct' path to Nirvana, and the master telling him "it's right here". Sadhguru explains, wherever you want to go, whether you want to attain nirvana, or go to some place, the journey can only start from where you are right now. He says - "If you ask for liberation without moving an inch from the place you are in, how will you ever get it?". Only if you take a step from where you are, you can move towards reaching your goal.
November 25, 2019
Making Tea – A Zen Story
Sadhguru narrates a short Zen parable, and elaborates on how one should strive to find full expression to one's capabilities. Is it better to approach life thinking "I can do this, I can not do this", or thinking "I have to do this, and I should not do this"?
October 9, 2019
A Blind Man Carrying A Lantern – A Zen Story
Sadhguru narrates a short zen parable of a blind man carrying a lantern, and then explains what the parable is trying to say. We create processes to benefit our lives. These become part of our culture. But most times we forget why these processes were created in the first place, and start following them blindly. Over time, these get distorted and don't serve the purpose that they were designed for. The new generation then wonders and gets confused about whether it is needed for our life or not. Sadhguru emphasizes this with an example of a certain tradition followed in Karnataka.
July 30, 2019
The Buffalo’s Tail – A Zen Story
The famous Zen story about the buffalo's tail - what is this story trying to tell us? Sadhguru tells us another story, that of how Bahubali got enlightened. And through that he explains what the hidden message in this simple zen story is. This is a must read, for all those seeking to grow on the spiritual path!
June 26, 2019
How to Deal With a Thief – A Zen Story
This blog narrates two similar stories of a compulsive thief; one from "Les Miserables" and another a Zen parable. Sadhguru explains - a human being can face any kind of punishment given to him, but melts when faced with immense compassion. The way to deal with a thief is compassion and not punishment. A disciple should be someone who is willing to make use of every situation to grow and transform. Those who put conditions on the Guru, are not really interested in transformation - it is better to let them go, then to waste time on them.
May 15, 2019
What is Wrong With This Story – A Zen Story
In a monastery a Zen master narrates a story to his disciples. At the end of the story, he asked the disciples - "what is wrong with this story?". None of the disciples got it; the master smiled and walked away. Sadhguru unravels the hidden wisdom of the story. A true master - wherever there is a need and a possibility - will not hesitate to show compassion. Compassion can not choose - it is not bound by morals, laws and beliefs.
April 15, 2019
Predetermined Answers – A Zen Story
A Questioner narrates an interesting Zen story to Sadhguru, and also shares an explanation about it. Sadhguru tells us that we can not make a moral out of a Spiritual process. Spirituality is about a way to be, and not a way to do. An action is only relevant to the situation one exists in. So, there is no right or wrong answer, there is no right or wrong action - there is only appropriate action and an appropriate answer. Approaching any situation with predetermined answers is not appropriate. Sadhguru says, this is the essential difference between morality and consciousness.
December 28, 2018
Life and Death – A Zen Story
October 9, 2020
In a Mustard Seed – A Zen Story
September 14, 2020
The Right Guru – A Zen Story
August 6, 2020
How to attain enlightenment?
July 19, 2020
Learning Zen from a Dog – A Zen Story
May 18, 2020
The Best Place to Be – A Zen Story
March 26, 2020
These are Bamboos – A Zen Story
February 28, 2020
Nothing to Get – A Zen Story
January 21, 2020
Of Laughter and Enlightenment – A Zen Story
December 19, 2019
The Path to Nirvana – A Zen Story
November 25, 2019
Making Tea – A Zen Story
October 9, 2019
A Blind Man Carrying A Lantern – A Zen Story
July 30, 2019
The Buffalo’s Tail – A Zen Story
June 26, 2019
How to Deal With a Thief – A Zen Story
May 15, 2019
What is Wrong With This Story – A Zen Story
April 15, 2019
Predetermined Answers – A Zen Story
December 28, 2018
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