Mindfulness Mondays 54: The Inn
June 7, 2010 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
A traveller came upon the King’s palace and walked right past the guards to the throne without difficulty. The king a bit startled asked what the man wanted. The man asked, “Do you have place in this inn?” The king replies, “This is not an inn. It is my palace.” The man then inquires further, “May I ask who owned this palace before you?” The king explains, “My father. But he is now dead.” ”And who owned it before your father?” the man then asks. ”Well, my grandfather, but he is dead too,” the king exclaims. The man then concludes, “And you do not think this is an inn?”
We too often believe that we are a product of what we own and what we own is something special: our car, our house, our office, our clothes. However, we are mere passengers in this journey called life. The sooner that we recognize the transience of what we have in front of us and the futility of holding on to everything we have as “an owner”, the more joy we can express and feel. We can become more at peace when we recognize that perhaps our own home is merely an inn and not a home.
Mindfulness Mondays 53: Just Two Words
May 31, 2010 by dr. lam · 2 Comments
There was once a Franciscan monastery that was very strict. All the monks would swear to a vow of silence except every ten years they were allowed to speak just two words. After the first ten years, one monk turned to the head monk and stated, “Bed…hard.” ”I see,” replied the head monk. Another ten years passed, and the same monk was given the chance to speak two words. This time, he said, “Food…stinks.” ”I see,” replied the head monk. Another ten years passed, and the same monk was given the chance to speak two words. The monk this time says, “I…quit.” The head monk retorts, “Well, I can see why. All you ever do is complain.”
The lesson of this story is obviously couched in a funny tale. Several things are apparent. First that a spiritual individual like the monk is spending decades focused on the physical limitations of his life. The second is that it took him 30 years to realize that before quitting. How often are we complaining or moaning about our situation? How does that complaining prevent us from becoming enlightened? How long are we going to continue with this silly ranting that colors our entire world view?
Happy Memorial Day!
Mindfulness Mondays 52: Two Archers
May 24, 2010 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
A young archer challenged a zen master to a show of talent. The archer says to the master, “Watch this!”, and promptly raises his bow and strikes a distant bull’s eye on a wall. The zen master silently raises his hand and gestures the young man to follow him onto a mountain side without saying a word. The two climb up a steep mountain and view a narrow bridge made of a log that spans a deep chasm of an abyss. The zen master steadily climbs on the shaky log and walks halfway across the abyss to face a very distant tree. Without a word, the zen master raises his bow and strikes the tree dead center and then returns back to safe ground. The zen master then turns to the archer and gestures for him to do the same. However, with much trepidation the young archer turns to the master and shakes his head no. The master then exclaims, “You have much skill with the bow but very little with the mind who let’s loose the shot.”
We are all born of ego. We think we are better than anyone else around us. However, remember there is always someone better. When we become clouded by our ego, we can no longer see how much more we can grow because we already think we know it all. Have you encountered someone who just lives his or her life with braggadocio and swagger? Have you been that person? I know that I have in the past done this, and I am learning to let my ego go. These blogs are helping me do that, as I hope they are helping you as well. Namaste.
Mindfulness Mondays 51: Chasing Two Rabbits
May 17, 2010 by dr. lam · 2 Comments
A student approached his martial artist master and said, “I would like to learn from another master too to get as much learning as I can.” The master turned back to the student and said, “A hunter who chases two rabbits catches neither one.”
This popular saying helps support the notion that we all must pursue what we love and do so with fervent zeal. When we try to do too many things or chase too many things, we cannot gain anything but we have a lot to lose. When I attended the Jim Collin’s event last year, the guru said that “Great companies do not die from lack of opportunity but from not knowing when to leave opportunity on the table.” In his book, How the Mighty Fall, which we covered last year in our blogs, he says that complacency is not what causes great companies to fail but overreaching is.
Look at your life at what may be causing clutter and see what you can unchase. I have learned a lot this past year to say no to things rather than yes. In fact, I have said, “No” far more than I say yes to invitations, requests, etc. At this point in my life, I have become quite selective in projects that I take on and activities that I engage in simply because chasing every small thing that comes to you leads to nothing.
Mindfulness Mondays 50: Thanks One and All
May 10, 2010 by dr. lam · 2 Comments
Whenever we offer gratitude to someone, do we do that only to those in high important positions in life? Or can we see that everyone should occupy a high position in life no matter what social or professional rank he or she has? I can see the character of someone in how he or she treats the waitstaff at a restaurant, the doorman, etc. How often are these individuals given respect and appreciation? I think very little, but they can be the cornerstone in many ways to our very life and lifestyle. I find the “lower rank” someone is, the more that individual treats the next person of “lower rank” with even more disdain to exert his or her authority. I find that debasing to be even more belittling on the person dishing it out than on the person receiving it. We should all express gratitude in our life to everyone around us who we are blessed to have in our life no matter what social or professional position he or she should hold because it does not matter. We are all human beings and deserving of equal respect remembering the old adage: ”We should treat someone how we would like to be treated ourselves.”