When we had our Winter Solstice gathering, one of the things that we did was pull a card with one word on it. That word is the thing that we will work on over 2024. The card that I pulled was “Truth”. Interesting to me is that stuff that I do every day is supporting that.
In my study of all things Buddhism, I came across a little book called “The Little Book of Zen Haiku, Koans, Sayings” from Barnes and Noble, and edited by Manuela Dunn Mascetti. Now, Koans are stories that are meant to be puzzling to help the student gain enlightenment after meditating on the story – sometimes for great lengths of time.
The Koan that I am sitting with is called “Tipping Over A Vase”.
Hyakujo wished to send a monk to open a new monastery. He told hi disciples that whoever answered a question most ably would be appointed. Placing a water vase on the ground, he asked, “Who can say what this is without calling its name?”
The Chief monk said, “No one can call it a wooden shoe.”
Isan, the cooking monk, tipped over the vase with his foot and went out.
Hyakujo smiled and said, “The chief monk loses.” And, Isan became the master of the new monastery.
The point of the Koan is to show that truth, as symbolized by the water vase, can only be shown. The cooking monk makes this demonstration very effectively.
One of the leadership tools that I used to teach in my Organizational Behaviour Class was “How to Refute Rumour”. The only way was to ignore it, not comment on it, and show the employees what the truth was.
Truth is healing! It gives us a spiritual peace. We feel balanced and at one with all things… Nature is our friend. Sadly, we as a civilization seem to have moved far from Truth. Perhaps we have reached the furthest swing of the pendulum and we are now ready to start kicking over vases, politicians, corrupt CEO’s and Boards, to get at the Truth.
May you find Truth in all you do!
Many Blessings,
Judy
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Blessings,
Judy