The parable of "The Two Arrows" invites us to explore our relationship with pain, and suffering, and our reactions to them. In this story, a person is struck by an arrow. The initial pain caused by the arrow's impact represents the first arrow. This is followed by suffering resulting from our emotional reactions, which is represented as the second arrow. The essence of this teaching lies in the recognition that while we cannot always control the external events that cause pain (the first arrow), we have the power to control our response to these events (the second arrow).
Moral Lesson: This parable teaches us that suffering is not solely a result of external circumstances, but also of our attachment to our pain and our resistance to accepting it. By acknowledging pain as an integral part of life and learning to let go of our resistance, we can alleviate unnecessary suffering and achieve a state of inner peace.
2. The Tiger and the Strawberry
In this parable, a man finds himself in a precarious situation. As he flees from a ferocious tiger, he reaches the edge of a cliff, with the beast hot on his heels. With no way to retreat and facing imminent danger, he grasps onto a vine hanging over the cliff's edge to save himself.
While clinging to the vine, he glances down and notices a single ripe strawberry growing within arm's reach. Despite his dire circumstances and the looming threat of the tiger above, the man plucks the strawberry and eats it, savoring its sweetness with full presence and mindfulness.
Moral Lesson: The lesson of this parable can be summed up as being fully engaged in the present moment, regardless of external challenges or potential dangers. The man's ability to appreciate the simple joy of the ripe strawberry amidst his life-threatening situation demonstrates the power of mindfulness and the capacity to find beauty even amid adversity.
3. The Stone and the River
In this story, a monk seeks clarification from his master on the topic of impermanence. The monk is given a stone by the master and told to toss it into a nearby river. As the stone drops beneath the water's surface and vanishes from view, the master asks the monk, "Where has the stone gone?"
The monk, understanding the lesson at hand, replies that the stone is no longer present in the river. The instructor then transmits his wisdom, stating that, like the stone's form, everything in existence follows the same path of impermanence. Erodin, like the river, flows indefinitely.
Moral Lesson: The parable emphasizes the reality of impermanence, reminding us that everything is transient. We can let go of our attachments to material belongings, experiences, and even our own identities by accepting this reality. By doing so, we liberate ourselves from the misery caused by clinging to the transient and open ourselves up to a more profound appreciation of the present moment.
4. The Farmer's Luck
A farmer's life is a canvas upon which chance and misfortune paint their unpredictable strokes in this story. When his horse escapes, neighbors lament his misfortune. Yet, the horse returns with wild companions, transforming his luck into celebration. When his son attempts to tame a wild horse and is injured, despair replaces joy. However, the son's injury prevents him from being conscripted, once again inverting the judgment of fate.
The crux of this fable resides in its exploration of fate's unpredictability and the dichotomy of good and bad luck. Each occurrence, whether seemingly favorable or terrible, is interwoven with its polar opposite, which frequently only becomes apparent over time. The farmer's calm in the face of changing circumstances underscores the virtue of seeing beyond the obvious.
Moral Lesson: The purpose of this parable is to provide us with a perspective that transcends dualities in a society in which we tend to describe events as either fortunate or unfortunate. We liberate ourselves from the emotional rollercoaster of life's ups and downs by letting go of our attachment to quick judgments. The farmer's luck serves as a reminder that the complexities of existence do not exist in black and white, but rather in shades of gray.
5. Great Waves
This parable revolves around the story of a renowned wrestler named O-nami, which means "Great Waves" in Japanese. O-nami was a fearsome and undefeated wrestler who had achieved great fame due to his remarkable strength and skills. Despite his success, O-nami was not content; he felt an inner emptiness that his victories could not fill.
One day, O-nami sought the counsel of a Zen master. He approached the master with humility and asked for guidance on finding true contentment. The Zen master, perceptive of O-nami's inner turmoil, instructed him to meditate on the image of great waves until he found enlightenment.
O-nami followed the master's advice with zeal. He went into meditation, immersing himself in images of immense and strong ocean waves. As he concentrated, he thought about the waves' unending nature - their rise and fall, their force and quiet. O-nami began to recognize connections between the waves and the ups and downs of his own life, as well as the fleeting nature of fame and achievement, via this focused meditation.
A startling revelation dawned on O-nami as he continued to ponder on the image of the vast waves. He saw that life, like the waves, is marked by perpetual change, and that clinging to external successes and wins lead to pain. True happiness, he concluded, was in accepting life's impermanence and attaining inner serenity regardless of exterior circumstances.
Moral Lesson: Upon emerging from his meditation, O-nami expressed his gratitude to the Zen master, explaining how the meditation on the great waves had transformed his perspective. He had found a deep sense of contentment within himself, unaffected by the ebbs and flows of life's challenges and successes.
6. Gudo and the Emperor
In the Zen tale of "Gudo and the Emperor," we come across a fascinating exchange that exemplifies the essence of true wisdom and the nature of enlightenment. Gudo, a Zen teacher famous for his simplicity and depth of insight, and an Emperor who wants to engage Gudo in a philosophical debate are central to the plot.
The emperor, intrigued by Zen teachings, pays a visit to Gudo's monastery, accompanied by his royal entourage. With humility, the Emperor poses a long-unanswered question: "What is the highest truth of the holy teaching?" He anticipates an elaborate response, expecting the master to provide intricate philosophical insights to satisfy his curiosity.
Gudo, who is sitting calmly in concentration, however, opens his eyes and looks at the Emperor. Then, with a simple and direct demeanor, he says one word: "Attention."
This seemingly straightforward response astounds the emperor. He was expecting a meaningful talk, but instead he is presented with a single word that he has most likely heard countless times before. Disappointed and perplexed, he inquires, "Is that all?"
Unfazed by the emperor's reaction, Gudo responds with the same calm simplicity: "Attention."
Moral Lesson: The fable encapsulates a deep message on the nature of knowledge, enlightenment, and the essence of Zen in three brief exchanges. Gudo's remark of "Attention" encapsulates the essence of Zen practice: being fully present in the moment, attentive to the here and now. It emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, focus, and awareness cultivation in all aspects of life.
The emperor's initial dissatisfaction reflects our own proclivity to seek elaborate and intricate answers to life's challenges. Gudo's wisdom rests not in extensive explanations, but in getting to the essence of the problem. True wisdom, according to this story, is discovered in the simplicity of presence and attention rather than the complexity of words.
