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.If we don't look at the big picture we let ourmomentary successes and failures seesaw our emotional states up and down.""Being is.""It is trying to say that the mind wanders.You lose commiment top things and every other day,something more interstings captures your mind.""Always a good thing to remember.Nothing is permanent.Enjoy."Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com ZEN STORIES TO TELL YOUR NEIGHBOURS43"My reaction: Time heals all.If you can't concentrate it's because your worried about somethingand not happy with yourself.Keep Smiling"Just Two WordsThere once was a monastery that was very strict.Following a vow of silence,no one was allowed to speak at all.But there was one exception to this rule.Every ten years, the monks were permitted to speak just two words.Afterspending his first ten years at the monastery, one monk went to the headmonk."It has been ten years," said the head monk."What are the two wordsyou would like to speak?""Bed.hard." said the monk."I see," replied the head monk.Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk's office."It has beenten more years," said the head monk."What are the two words you wouldlike to speak?""Food.stinks." said the monk."I see," replied the head monk.Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the headmonk who asked, "What are your two words now, after these ten years?""I.quit!" said the monk."Well, I can see why," replied the head monk."All you ever do is complain."Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com ZEN STORIES TO TELL YOUR NEIGHBOURS44( This story is a favorite in many western monasteries.It may ormay not be an original Zen tale.Like any good anecdote, it makesus laugh, but also encourages us to think about why it is funny.)People's reactions to this story:If all you ever do is complain you can't expect to cross the finish line, you'll convince yourselfotherwise first."I heard this story, originally, from my father who heard it from a Francisican Abbot.Thechuckle it evokes is welcome, of course, but it does beg the question - Why was the monk therein the first place if he refused to let go of physical, mundane and certainly egocentric concernsand not search for universal truth?""stop.complaining.""I believe that we have the choice to either focus on the positive aspects of our lives or dwell ofthe negatives.He obviously chose the negatives and therefore was not accomplishing much - hewas basically wasting his time with negative preoccupations.""Ha! Ha!""The thing that makes it humourous and enjoyable is not the fact that the monk should not havebeen there in the first place , it's that he stayed thirty years before he left.This makes us realisethat if we were in that situation then we would have simply walked out and not have waitedanother ten years!""When eating, eat; when sitting, sit.These are not complaints.They are the moment.It wouldseem the head monk has no awareness.and talks too much!""Enough's enough.""The head monk is shallow.The monk was enlightened.""The punchline of this story is certainly very Western.But if you look deeper, it deals with thebasis of self deprivation.After thirty years the younger monk had learnt nothing.The head monkwas understandably disappointed.And it was about time the younger one left.""Although he spoke only six words in thirty years, the monk did nothing but complain the wholetime - in his head.That's why he had nothing better to say when he had the chance.""Although the monk only said two words every 10 years, he constantly thought of unimportantthings, instead of focusing on what he was being silent for.""It's just funny.period.Quit analizing and enjoy a moment you people!"Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com ZEN STORIES TO TELL YOUR NEIGHBOURS45"Thank You"Knowing FishOne day Chuang Tzu and a friend were walking by a river."Look at the fishswimming about," said Chuang Tzu, "They are really enjoying themselves.""You are not a fish," replied the friend, "So you can't truly know that theyare enjoying themselves.""You are not me," said Chuang Tzu."So how do you know that I do notknow that the fish are enjoying themselves?"(A western version of this story describes two philosophers on awalk while discussing phenomenology.One of them kicks a dogand says, "See! This dog is experiencing pain".etc
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