Leo Tolstoy's "The Three Hermits"
While on my retreat last week I finished a book titled Autobiography of a Yogi, and in that book the author shares a summary of the story The Three Hermits by Leo Tolstoy, and I'd like to share an even more abridged version of that story here:
On an island there lived three old hermits. They were very simple people, and didn't know complicated prayers. In fact they knew only one: "We are three, Thou art Thee, have mercy on us." In spite of this one and only prayer, the hermits were said to have created many great miracles.
Homesick
Last night I was reading a book named "Wanting Enlightenment Is a Big Mistake (Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn)", and there is a short story titled Homesick that made me think of yesterday's meditation session.
The Indigo Girls and Pema Chodron need to talk
Timing has been very funny lately, and this is no exception. Last night I was listening to the Indigo Girls sing "Closer to Fine", and then this morning I was reading a Pema Chodron book. Why is it funny? Check out these two quotes:
From the Indigo Girls song "Closer to Fine":
"The less I seek my source for some definitive, the closer I am to fine."
From Pema Chodron:
Two powerful quotes from Wanting Enlightenment is a Big Mistake
I’ve been reading the book Wanting Enlightenment is a Big Mistake, a book of teachings by Zen Master Seung Sahn (ZMSS), edited by Hyon Gak Sunim, and a few lines from the chapter on his early life really hit me just now.
In the first part, ZMSS had just gone to a Buddhist monastery. He was given a copy of the Diamond Sutra, and as he read it, he read the words:
Death, Buddhist beliefs, and attachment
Tonight after work I stopped by the funeral home for the visitation of the man that passed away Monday morning. As I expected, the funeral home was very crowded, with many people from work, and many other people I don’t know.
What is the meaning of a monk cutting his hair?
I’ve been thinking about being a monk lately, and writing about it, so I thought I’d share one more tidbit from the book “Only Don’t Know”, by the late Zen Mast Seung Sahn (ZMSS). This part involves the question, “What is the meaning of a monk cutting his hair?”
ZMSS answers this question like this:
