Reasons
One day a malcontent was sitting under a walnut tree, and his eyes fell on a great pumpkin growing nearby.
“Oh God,” said the malcontent, “how foolish you are to give such small nuts to such a big tree and such immense fruit to this tiny vine. Now if pumpkins were growing on this big tree and nuts on this vine, I’d have admired your wisdom.
Just after he said this, a walnut fell down on the man’s head and startled him.
“Oh God,” he continued, “you are right after all. If the pumpkin had fallen from such a height, I might have been killed. Great is your wisdom and your goodness.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life as a pig
One day, a old master had a vision of his next life. He immediately called in his favorite disciple and begged a favor of him.
“Anything for you master.” the disciple replied.
“In my next life, I will come back as a pig. Soon after I die, our sow will give birth and I will be the fourth pig of the litter. You will recognize me by a mark on my brow. When that happens, please take a sharp knife and end my life quickly.
Within the year, the master passed away and the sow gave birth. The disciple sharpened his knife and found the small piglet. Suddenly the little pig screamed “Stop! Don’t kill me!”
The disciple dropped his knife in surprise and stared at the little pig. “When I was like you I didn’t know what a pig’s life would be like. It’s great. Just let me go.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- story source: nozen.com (both stories)
- picture sources: jon‑stewart‑pumpkin.jpg Piglet.jpg age‑quotes‑graphics‑2.jpg (white tiger w/ quote)
- related (zendictve) story: Rituals and a cat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sozan, a Chinese Zen master, was asked by a student: “What is the most valuable thing in the world?”
The master replied: “The head of a dead tiger.”
“Why is the head of a dead tiger the most valuable thing in the world?” inquired the student.
Sozan replied: “Because no one can name its price.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
here are two piglets, dressed in tiger clothes and in a tiger pit…??? (I searched for a source and an explanation but couldn’t get the story) they say a picture paints a thousand words, well I add that it also raises a few questions. There has to be a …
…reason!
In case you haven’t noticed… I like tigers…
I had this made for my wife at christmas (wood burned art- box)
(click on pic to enlarge)
may your day be filled with reason
11 comments
Comments feed for this article
February 4, 2012 at 5:41 am
Cynthia Pugliese
Your jewelry box is beautiful.
February 4, 2012 at 5:47 am
artjen1971
That tiger box is beautiful! Did you do the drawing (burning, etching?) yourself?
Love the pigs dressed like tigers. I think I remember seeing something about that on the news a lond time ago, but I can’t remember the reason for it…maybe the tiger liked pigs in blankets, or something…
February 4, 2012 at 6:41 am
willowdot21
Art I remember this the http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-498789/The-tiger-adopted-litter-piglets-tale-porkies.html lovely isn’t it . It shows love crosses all borders!! hugs xx
February 4, 2012 at 7:36 am
Miro
Wonderful write as always, zen brother. For your continued sharing of wisdom, I’d like to nominate you for the 1-in-100 Warrior Award: http://warriorpoetwisdom.com/2012/02/04/1-in-100-warrior-award-and-abc-blog-award/
Thank you for all that you do. Wishing you continued inspiration and creativity!
Peace & grace,
~Miro
February 4, 2012 at 7:43 am
WordsFallFromMyEyes
Oh Miro, if only you sold those wood burned boxes – it is BEAUTIFUL. Your wife is so fortunate – tell her I said so!!
I liked the first parable, but couldn’t help thinking of coconuts!!
This posting was a total treat. Thank you.
February 4, 2012 at 9:34 am
gingerfightback
Love the tiger box – thanks once again!
February 4, 2012 at 10:02 am
Cat Forsley
To reason and Reality Art —– Great writing mister ART !!!!!!!!!
From Eddie —– and Me 🙂
February 4, 2012 at 10:29 am
Linda Vernon
Ha ha! On second thought I guess I’m glad watermelons don’t grow on trees! Nice eclectic mix today! Good start for the weekend!
February 4, 2012 at 10:33 am
Sue Dreamwalker
Great insights here as ever ~Art.. and wow loved the wordburn Art of your Tiger.. No rubbing out mistakes there!… Fabulous.. loved it.. ~Sue x
February 5, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Fergiemoto
Beautiful jewelry box! I like tigers also!
February 5, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Soma Mukherjee
Hi Zen I came here from Miro..Loved the stories specially the first one so true every thing in life is for a reason if only we get it and move wisely instead of cribbing…
lovely blog
beautiful jewelry box 🙂