Life Zen

Author: Gao Feizhou
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Where is happiness? A young man came to the church and asked God where happiness was. He asked God to tell him, as he wanted to find happiness. God sent an angel to the world to find the young man. The angel told him to close his eyes, and a beautiful woman would take him to find happiness. If he opened his eyes, the beautiful woman would disappear from his side. The young man impatiently closed his eyes, and then a beautiful, softly voiced, and fragrant imaginary girl came to his side. The young man kept his eyes shut every day, walking with the imaginary girl on the path to find happiness. One day, a girl named Hope came and said to the young man, "Open your eyes and look at me. I am more beautiful and gentler than the imaginary girl. Only I can lead you to happiness." The young man thought for a moment but did not open his eyes. He did not want to lose the imaginary girl; as soon as he opened his eyes, the imaginary girl would leave him. So no matter how Hope persuaded him, he never opened his eyes. Hope sighed and left in disappointment. At that moment, as he listened to Hope's footsteps receding, he suddenly thought of looking at Hope to see if she was indeed better than the imaginary girl. After hesitating for a long time, he opened his eyes and ran in the direction of Hope, but he only saw her receding figure. He regretted it deeply, wishing he had opened his eyes earlier. Because he broke his promise and opened his eyes, the imaginary girl disappeared. At that moment, he stopped and glanced back unintentionally, only to see a girl who was not particularly beautiful and did not have a fragrant body following him, holding an umbrella that could shield him from wind and rain, gazing at him with deep affection. The young man then had an epiphany!
Droplets of Nectar: Happiness is not the fantasy of closing one's eyes, nor the regret and sorrow of missing hope afterward. Rather, it is to stop chasing happiness that is unattainable. Clench tightly the hand of reality and cherish what you have now. In truth, happiness has never left you. It has always been by your side, waiting for you to take its hand.
Zen Life: What is Zen? Zen is not a religion, so there is no need to wholeheartedly adhere to it; Zen is not a belief, so there is no need to pray to the Buddha every day. So, what is Zen? The question is too sharp, and it cannot be answered. Let me give an analogy. Yoga is very popular today. Whether it's Ming Sheng, a white-collar worker, or a student, who doesn't know what it is? If you don't, you'll be laughed at as outdated. Of course, it's not gymnastics, nor is it martial arts. Is it meditation? No, not quite. Perhaps it is a state where the mind and body are free and at ease, becoming one, seamless, so that one can stretch freely and endlessly. That's Zen—that is, the self. It is not an escape from liberation, comparing every fleeting inspiration and desire to a clear spring to extinguish the fire of desire. After a thousand years of wind and frost, there is always a path that stretches on, praised by the mouth. Because it is too exquisite, too classic, it has had to become eternal. Reading it today, it is still fragrant like peach and plum blossoms. Even as ordinary people, we might as well seek the wisdom of the sages and apply it to ourselves.