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Posts tagged ‘21.5.800’

Jun 28 10

Emptying the cup

by Tom

Zen is not a philosophy nor is it a religion. Similarly, yoga is neither philosophy nor religion. They are both practices, skillful means by which we can learn about ourselves and the world we live in.  They provide exercises and challenges so that we may work on what we can change and accept that which [...]

Jun 28 10

Chasing two rabbits

by Tom

A martial arts student approached his teacher with a question. “I’d like to improve my knowledge of the martial arts. In addition to learning from you, I’d like to study with another teacher in order to learn another style. What do you think of this idea?” “The hunter who chases two rabbits,” answered the master, [...]

Jun 27 10

The Five Tibetans

by Tom

Legend has it that high in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, there existed a hidden monastery where a group of lamas had discovered the secret of eternal youth. For generations and generations this knowledge had been passed down but the monks were cut off from the outside world so this secret had never been [...]

Jun 25 10

The most profound thing ever written

by Tom

Last November, on a boat, in the middle of the ocean,  standing on top deck, marveling at the vast expanse of stars overhead, I found myself involved in a deep conversation about the Heart Sutra. As far as I’m concerned it’s the most profound thing that I’ve ever read although it was only through reading [...]

Jun 25 10

Blow fish, the strawberry and a bucket

by Tom

Chogyam Trungpa often talked and wrote about the fearlessness with which we should try to live our lives and how we should embrace the challenges of life as spiritual warriors: “Acknowledging fear is not a cause for depression or discouragement. Because we possess such fear, we are also potentially entitled to experience fearlessness. True fearlessness [...]

Jun 23 10

The sun rises in the evening

by Tom

One of my favourite possessions is a zen meditation painting that I bought from the Silent Flute Gallery, Koh Samui, Thailand, 15 years ago. For zen artists, the act of painting is a moving meditation and allows a zen master to point at the inexplainable: “zen art is exciting, bold and direct. It has a [...]

Jun 22 10

Monkey Mind, Leaping Monkey

by Tom

“Throughout the years I have noticed the tendency in myself and others to think that … the poses must be difficult … to be beneficial and worthwhile … we do not practice to find the comfortable, but to overcome ourselves and conquer the pose. In reality, our thoughts about the poses reflect our thoughts about [...]

Jun 22 10

Monks and megaphones

by Tom

mantra: Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu translation: “May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.” book: Yoga and Vegetarianism, Sharon Gannon Karma yoga is the self-less spiritual practice of seeking to help [...]

Jun 20 10

Watching …

by Tom

Watching, Waiting. Soon be time for dinner.

Jun 20 10

Grasshopper and the 12 Goldfish

by Tom

The ’70s can be blamed for many things but as a kid I used to love watching David Carradine in Kung Fu. Here’s an anecdote from an episode of the show that is described in The Yamas and Niyamas, by Deborah Adele: One day Grasshopper and the master are sitting in the temple grounds watching [...]