By Paulo Coelho
Part of the training of a Zen Buddhist monk is a practice known as takuhatsu - the begging pilgrimage. As well as helping the monasteries, which depend for their existence on donations, and teaching the student humility, this practice has another purpose too, that of purifying the town in which the monk lives.
This is because, according to Zen philosophy, the giver, the beggar and the alms money itself all form part of an important chain of equilibrium.
The person doing the begging does so because he is needy, but the person doing the giving also does so out of need.
The alms money serves as a link between these two needs, and the atmosphere in the town improves, since everyone is able to act in a way in which he or she needed to act.
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A couple of days ago, I picked up this book, for no rhyme or reason, and then finished reading it over the next 48 hours. No matter how absurd it seems, time and again I have discovered that books end up being read only when the time is right.
Although I had a copy for more than a year or so, I kept putting off reading The Zahir by Paulo Coelho because I had ….
This article is written by Manoj Khatri. Please visit the blog Wordly Wise to read the rest.
‘As everyone knows, the life of a cloud is very busy and very short,’ writes Bruno Ferrero. And here’s a related story.
A young cloud was born in the midst of a great storm over the Mediterranean Sea, but he did not even have time to grow up there, for a strong wind pushed all the clouds over towards Africa.
As soon as the clouds reached the …
This article is written by Ezan. Please visit the blog Epitome of Simplicity to read the rest.
“Keep looking in the mirror. Who can you see?”
“A woman.”
“And what is there beyond that woman?”
She hesitated. I asked again and she said, “Another woman, more …
This article is written by Shanti. Please visit the blog ana_morphic to read the rest.
