Everyday Zen

by Charlotte Joko Beck

There’s a famous Buddhist parable: a man was being chased by a tiger. In his desperation he dove over the side of a cliff and grabbed a vine. As the tiger was pawing away above him he looked below and saw another tiger at the base of the cliff, waiting for him to fall. To top it off two mice were gnawing away at the vine. At that moment he spotted a luscious strawberry and, holding the vine with one hand, he picked the strawberry and ate it. It was delicious! What finally happened to the man? We know, of course. Is what happened to him a tragedy? Notice that the man being chased by a tiger didn’t lie down and say, “Oh, you beautiful creature. We are one. Please eat me.” The story is not about being foolish—even though on one level, the man and the tiger are one. The man did his best to protect himself, as we all should. Nevertheless, if we’re left hanging on that vine, we can either waste that last moment of life or we can appreciate it. And isn’t every moment the last moment? There is no moment other than this.