|
Story
The Zen teacher Hakuin was praised by his neighbors as one living a pure life. A beautiful Japanese girl, whose parents owned a food store, lived near him. Her parents discovered the girl was pregnant. The parents got very angry, but she would not identify the father. After her parents harassed her harshly, she claimed Hakuin as the father.
With rage the parents went to see the teacher. They accused him of being the child's father. All Hakuin replied was, "Is that so?"
After the child was born, it was brought to Hakuin. By this time he had lost his reputation. That did not bother him at all. He took good care of the child, as though it were his own. He got milk from the neighbors and all else the child needed to be healthy.
A year later the mother of the baby could bear her guilt no more. She told her parents the truth, that a young man who worked at the fish market was the father.
The mother and father at once went to Hakuin for forgiveness, to apologize with many words, and to get the child back. Hakuin was willing. In giving the child over, all the teacher said was, "Is that so?"
Comments
Life is like the surface of the Sea or like the air around us~constantly changing. Circumstances are often beyond our control. Our response to situations is a matter of choice, however.
A healthy response to life changes is aided by certainty of who you really are~knowledge of yourself as son or daughter of God. Circumstances do not change your identity in~Christ.
We can look at details of our lives~genes, relationships, job, finances, family history, education, house we live in, vehicle we drive, religion we belong to, … These details do not define who we are.
To be being born again~from above, from God~as process means the Holy Spirit slowly dismantling our false identity so we can see ourselves as we are seen by God in~Christ. As we grow closer to the God~in~Three, with dissolving of false identity, we are able more to respond Christ-like to the situations we face daily. We live more from our True Self, our Self~in~Christ.
Suggested Reflection
View who you usually think and act like you are as a collection of aspects, gathered to form your self, and drawn from many ways society has defined you as you. In meditation subtract each from that identity: "I am not ..." What is left? Who are you really? How might your life and relationships change by acting more free of this temporary identity persons have given you and from your Eternal Identity in~Christ?
For questions, comments, or booking Brian for book reading, speaking, workshop, or retreat, send email through Submit Query below.
See next page for details on OneLife Ministries, Brian's book An Ache for Union, and material pertaining to sources used in the writing.
Continued... |
