We Share One Life, We Are One Life
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Smaragd - Meditation, Angela Marie Henriette, Flickr
Wisdom Saying
Joy is the gateway to Nirvana.
*The Buddha
I have come that so you might have joy
and that your joy might be complete.
*Jesus
Wisdom Story
During the time of Gautama Siddhartha, the Buddha, he chose monks to carry the message of Buddhism from place to place. Those chosen had to be in good physical condition, completely honest, and have excellent memories. One such monk was Sadhonna.
Sadhonna was returning to the Deer Park, where the Buddha was staying. He encountered a monk practicing asceticism, or self-denial. The self-denying monk resembled cobwebs stretched over a skeleton. He was sitting on an anthill in the Lotus position. He did not even twitch, as ants pulled at his flesh. Sadhonna called to him, "Fellow monk, I am on my way to see the Buddha. Is there any message you would like to ask the Buddha?" The self-denying monk grimaced and said, "Ask the Buddha, how many more lifetimes I will endure before attaining Buddhahood." Sadhonna assured the monk that he would ask, and he continued on his journey.
Just before nightfall, Sadhonna heard someone singing a little off key. He could see someone dressed in monk's clothing, clumsily dancing in a little clearing in the woods. He called out, saying, "Fellow monk, I am on my way to see the Buddha. Is there any message you would like me to share with him?" The dancing monk thought for a moment and said, "Yes, ask him when will I reach my enlightenment." Sadhonna assured the dancing monk he would ask,and he walked on.
A few months later, Sadhonna returned and encountered the self-denying monk. His flesh was so thin that his bones were visible. "The Buddha answered your question," Sadhonna said. "How long until I reach my enlightenment?," whispered the self-denying monk. "Four more lifetimes," answered Sadhonna. The self-denying monk grimaced.
Sadhonna traveled on and met the dancing monk. "The Buddha has answered your question," he said. "How many more lifetimes until enlightenment?," asked the monk. Sadhonna pointed to a large tree with thousands of leaves shimmering in the sunlight. He said,"As many as the leaves on that tree." The dancing monk laughed and received enlightenment,instantly.
Prayerfulness introduces us to a joy native to our selves: not apart from, not an object to get to, to deserve. Joy arises spontaneously, when the conditions inwardly are aligned with our true Nature. This joy is not pleasure or happiness. Joy is an interior contentment and gladness arising from our true Nature, not from self as a person, or personality: in this sense, joy is never personal, but always transpersonal, or universal. Joy comes from nowhere and goes nowhere. This joy is not opposite to sadness, is not the opposite of anything. This joy is a quality of the Whole, of God, Goddess, your self.
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*Tian Tan Buddha, fredMin, Flickr
*You can contact Brian at briankwilcox@yahoo.com. Please keep in mind, when reading from this site, that teachings cover an extended period of years and, therefore, reflect changes over that time.
