A zen master and his student were out gathering berries in a field. In the distant landscape rest a volcanic mountain that bellowed small amounts of black smoke that trailed across the cloudless, baby blue sky.
The student reached down and was pricked by a thorn. He pulled his hand back from the pain and kicked the basket that contained the berries he had already picked, spilling them all over the ground.
“Are you alright?” Asked the zen master.
“Yeah,” replied the student as he bent down and began picking up the spilled berries. “I don’t know why we waste our time with these darn berries.” The student said in a negative tone.
“So that master Keno can make us all a ‘darn’ berry cobbler!” The zen master stated. “What is bothering you?” He asked.
“Nothing, you wouldn’t understand!” The student spat.
“Is it the girl in the village?” The master asked, knowing that the student had been going to the market and visiting with a certain young lady. “You don’t think I understand love?”
“It is complicated,” the student blared.
“I understand that you are like the volcano,” The master relayed. “The smoke from your mouth is not the problem, the true problem lies deep with-in you and churns like the lava deep with-in the mountain. The problem will only go away when the pressure you hold is released.”
“She is having a hard time deciding rather to go to the festival with me or with Sinyo.” The student stated.
“I suggest you take your talented voice and your brewing volcanic pressure and release a song to her that will sway her thoughts heavily.” The master suggested.
“That is so lame,” the student barked. Both continued picking berries.
“And standing there all frustrated is not making you lame? You have a choice, do something, or do nothing.” The master said as he finished filling his basket. The student thought long and hard about what the master said as the two headed back to the monastery.
Along the way, the student broke the silence. “So, your saying do something rather than do nothing? Isn’t zen about accepting what ever happens?”
“If your mimicking a volcano, eventually you will erupt. I am saying take that energy and put it to use rather than allow it to make you miserable.” The master replied. “All your negative spats have nothing to do with the real problem with-in you. If you have a goal.. then put your whole being into creating that goal or live with the fact you did nothing to reach that goal.”
They walked a bit further when the student asked, “So, you think I am a mountain?”
“No, you are a volcano blowing a lot of smoke. I am a mountain,” the master answered and they both smiled.
By Art~ 2012
(moral: often times the true reason some one is negative or blabbers with excessive adjectives is that a problem boils deep with-in them. Considering where I work; I am often faced with those who radiate negativity. I call it the negative disease, and I wear my antidote… ‘zen,’ to ensure I do not catch this disease and bring it home. Be like the mighty duck… ‘water off a ducks back’ is how one should deal with these type people and their harsh words, or… I am rubber and you are glue, what you say, bounces off of me and sticks to you (grinin)(~_~)
Emotions are like a volcano it will build up deep with-in, till it explodes, unless you do something to change it. The ‘tell tell’ signs are spatting negativity for no reason.
Emotions are often stronger than self-control, emotions are like a volcano.
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(~_~)
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Please let me know your thoughts. I wrote this story and accept any and all suggestions to make it better.
11 comments
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June 2, 2012 at 7:06 am
Kristin Barton Cuthriell
Great Post. I run Dialectical Behavior Therapy groups and we discuss rational mind, wise mind, and emotional mind. We refer the extreme emotional mind as the volcano. The philosophy is very zen. I always enjoy your insightful posts.
June 2, 2012 at 7:57 am
MysteryCoach
This is excellent as it stands and something I found very helpful today. Not in this vein particularly but overall. 🙂
June 2, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Aspergers Girls
Exactly where I’m at. In fact was given the image of a volcano this morning. I have been feeding my energy into creation, to avoid exploding. Thanks for this. Spirit has spoken! 🙂 Sam
June 2, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Cat Forsley
THIS IS YOUR STORY ART ….
LOVE THAT YOU ARE WRITING FROM YOUR OWN VOICE 🙂
CHANGE NOTHING ———
KEEP GOING 🙂
LOVE TO U AND FAM XX
C
June 2, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Sue Dreamwalker
Art, I loved your Story.. and the moral of it.. And no I can find no fault in it what so ever..
We often within our Jobs come up against Negative vibrations.. Me too working within Mental Health problems and supporting people whose behaviours have been challenging to say the least.. If we are not careful those energies can soon rub off.
And at times I admit, I have come home mentally drained..
I try to keep smiling no matter what, and put that ‘Bubble’ up around myself… ‘Water off a Ducks back’ etc.. Knowing that its not really me they are attacking, but their own selves..
We all of us at times do that..
These last few weeks for me have been a little bit of a rollercoaster ride within the turbulance of emotions which have reserfaced.. And the Volcanoe within me vented some steam… But it was needed.. for it made me look at the fire which caused it.. And I poured some healing waters upon it.. and now all is Calm..
I thank you for your visits Art.. and continued support…
Blessings to you my friend.. and A great job you do too! 🙂 both within your employment and a Great Blog in guiding others to find the Zen Way…
~Sue
June 2, 2012 at 5:35 pm
letsspreadcompassion
When’s your book coming?I’m sure, it will certainly be inspiring and best-selling…..Wanna read more!
June 2, 2012 at 6:53 pm
bibuji
I enjoyed the story, conversation and description of scenery. The last word of the master was also nice and witty! One thing I’d like to know better is – did the student kick the basket just by mistake or with anger against the pain? Did his behavior, that he started picking up the berries soon after that, mean that his exploded emotion was soon quenched? I suppose I could go along your story easier, if I could find it out better.
June 3, 2012 at 7:32 am
zendictive
good point, the student did kick the basket in anger and I should describe this more clearly. Thank you for your keen observation and for taking the time to point this out.
(~_~) bows humble
June 4, 2012 at 8:47 am
bibuji
It’s my pleasure. I love your story!
June 3, 2012 at 12:15 am
reflectionofabuddhistmonk
Truly excellent tale. Thank you so much for sharing this. Very moving and inspiring.
June 4, 2012 at 6:06 pm
granbee
Art, I thought the most successful point in the story was when the master declared himself a mountain, as compared to the spewing volcano of the student and his emotions. A solid rock upon which to build is a wonderful metaphor in this story.