Zenseday

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2010
Zenseday
11
Tue, 02-08-2011 - 10:32pm

I know it's early, but I wanted to get this written while it's quiet tonight. I've been thinking about the balance of effort and patience. Many of us try SO hard to move forward, get better, stop feeling, stay NC, etc. I've read several comments this week "when will this stop?" I found this story:

A young man in Japan who wanted to be the greatest martial artist of the land. He thought that to reach this goal, he must study with the best instructor, who lived many miles away. One day he left home to go study with this great Zen teacher. After traveling for several days, he arrived at the school and was given an audience with the teacher. "What do you wish to learn from me?" the master asked. "I want you to teach me your art and help me become one of the best martial artists in the country," the young man replied. "How long must I study?" "Ten years at least," the master answered.


The guy thought, ten years is a lot of time. I want to get his done sooner than that. I don't have that much time. Certainly if I try harder I can complete this task quicker. So he asked the master, "What if I studied twice as hard as everyone else? How long would it take then?"

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-24-2011
In reply to: bodhi2010
Tue, 02-08-2011 - 10:34pm

I love this story! Thanks Bodhi.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2010
In reply to: bodhi2010
Tue, 02-08-2011 - 11:59pm
Bodhi- this couldnt come at a better time. I need to focus on one brick at a time and stop thinking about what colour Ill paint the wall after I build it :)
You are what you consistently do
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2004
In reply to: bodhi2010
Wed, 02-09-2011 - 10:08am
I really enjoyed this Bodhi, patience and effort really stood out to me as key words to put into better practice in all areas of my life. Happy Zensday:)
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2010
In reply to: bodhi2010
Wed, 02-09-2011 - 10:44am

Bodhi, thanks for sharing the story :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2009
In reply to: bodhi2010
Wed, 02-09-2011 - 11:12am

Thank you Bodhi!

BE the change that you want to see in the world! Life loves me and I love life! <3
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2008
In reply to: bodhi2010
Wed, 02-09-2011 - 12:16pm

Great post Bodhi!

I'm rasing my hand as one that needs to work on patience.

I would also like to add that if the student in the expcerpt did not utilize the tried and tested tools being offered, then he would have likely added even more time and frustration to his journey.

Hugs,

E1

Whether you think you can or you think you can't you are probably right. A parrot can repeat what it has learned but the mark of true intelligence is applying what is learned.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2011
In reply to: bodhi2010
Wed, 02-09-2011 - 12:21pm

bodhi - thank you for this!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2008
In reply to: bodhi2010
Wed, 02-09-2011 - 12:26pm

Love this!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2010
In reply to: bodhi2010
Wed, 02-09-2011 - 2:04pm

I'm so glad everyone connected with the story. I really believe that balance in all things is the key. We have one posture in yoga (those of you that do bikram will know exactly what I'm talking about) called Standing Bow pose and the exact words the instructor says are "stretching and pulling are equal and simultaneous; if you do this, you will balance like this forever" That's what it's all about!

Bodhi

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2010
In reply to: bodhi2010
Wed, 02-09-2011 - 2:34pm

Ill always remember this from your standing bow pose reference!

Perfect illustration of finding BALANCE through - Stretching and pulling.

Thanks for sharing your insight.

Michelle

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart... Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens. I started looking inside and went NC October 15, 2010

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