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*Brian Wilcox. 'A Look Over The Waters'
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True life begins not at conception, not even at birth, but when we love. Love is our pulse.
*Phillip Gulley. Unlearning God.
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A disciple said to the Sage, "You say we're to love everyone. I try, but there's always someone I don't seem able to love." The Sage answered, "I didn't say you're to love each one; I said you're to love everyone." "I don't follow you," the disciple responded. The Sage said, "If you try to love each one, you'll meet someone you don't want to love, but when you decide to love everyone, you'll love everyone."
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A Buddhist tale -
A farmer asked a Zen priest to recite Buddhist scriptures for his wife, who had died. Following the recitation, the farmer asked, "Do you think my wife will gain merit from this?"
"Not only your wife but all sentient beings will benefit from the recitation of scriptures," replied the priest.
Spoke the farmer, "My wife may be very weak, and others will take advantage of her, getting the benefit she should get. So, please recite scriptures only for her."
The priest explained that Buddhists desired to offer blessings and wish merit for every living being.
"That's a fine teaching," remarked the farmer, "but please make one exception. I have a neighbor who is mean to me, so please exclude him from all those sentient beings."
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Jesus -
You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who wrong you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust.
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A disciple seemed unable to love another disciple. In private, she shared this with the Sage. She asked, "How do I begin to love her?" The Sage said, "You're there." "Where?" she inquired. The Sage laughed, saying, "Dear one, the place where loving her begins is the place where you admit you can't love her."
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(C) Brian K. Wilcox, 2020
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