10 sec read: The umbrella
As tradition dictates, upon entering his Zen master’s house, the disciple left his shoes and umbrella outside. “I saw through the window that you were arriving,” said the master. “Did you leave your shoes to the right or the left of the umbrella?” “I haven’t the least idea. But what does that matter? I was […]
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Seems to be saying that learning Zen (or anything really) isn't about some lofty knowledge or 'secret,' but about our practices in our daily life, second to second, minute to minute, hour to hour. It is through those things that we truly learn and make big changes to our knowledge and life.
JCM wrote: "The right side of the body is feminine and represents "receiving," the right side of the body is masculine and represents "giving" perhaps the Zen Master was trying to determine where the guest sto..."Did you mean "the left side" is feminine?
Yes Jolayne so confusing with the body and the brain being opposite concerning energies !! Thank you for correcting me.
Tradition dictates to leave shoes and house outside, and students must learn to be fully present at at all times. If the student was fully present she/he would have known if they have left their shoes to the right or to the left side of the umbrella.
Wow, a beautiful little parable or message, which shows that true meaning of mastering anything in life is to be fully aware of what is going on, within us and outside us every moment of our life and each decisions or actions we take is with the awareness about it.
"I haven't the least idea" perhaps suggests the guest is unaware of where he/she stands and is preoccupied with other thoughts?