A student once asked his Zen master, “How can I cultivate gratitude as a Spiritual Athlete?” The master replied, “Imagine a person standing in a field of flowers. They could focus on the weeds and the imperfections, or they could focus on the beauty and the abundance of the flowers. In the same way, the Spiritual Athlete cultivates gratitude by focusing on the blessings and abundance in their life, rather than dwelling on the difficulties or challenges. By cultivating gratitude, they can cultivate a deeper sense of joy and connection with themselves and the world around them.”

Anonymous

This koan emphasizes the importance of cultivating gratitude as a key aspect of the Spiritual Athlete’s journey. Rather than being consumed by negativity or scarcity thinking, the Spiritual Athlete cultivates a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for the blessings in their life, no matter how small. By practicing gratitude in their daily life, the Spiritual Athlete can cultivate a deeper sense of joy and fulfillment, and ultimately achieve a greater sense of oneness and connection with the universe.

Read more

Crucifixion and Resurrection

Crucifixion and Resurrection

One day, a weary traveler arrived at the village, having journeyed long and far in search of answers. He sought out the old master and found him sitting beneath an ancient tree, deep in meditation.
“Master,” the traveler asked, “I have heard tales of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Can you help me understand the true meaning of these events?”

read more
Moksha

Moksha

Here’s a Zen koan related to the concept of Moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth:
A student once asked his Zen master, “How can I achieve Moksha as a Spiritual Athlete?” The master replied, “Imagine a bird trapped in a cage. It dreams of soaring through the sky and being free, but it is bound by the bars of the cage.

read more
Samsara

Samsara

In a small hut on the edge of a dense forest, the Spiritual Athlete sat before her guru, her eyes filled with the longing for understanding. “Master,” she asked, “what is the secret to transcending Samsara, the endless cycle of birth and death?”

read more
Courage

Courage

A young disciple once asked his Zen master, “How can I cultivate courage as a Spiritual Athlete?” The master replied, “Imagine a person standing at the edge of a cliff. The drop is steep and the ground is far below, but they trust in themselves and their abilities to take the leap. In the same way, the Spiritual Athlete

read more
Law of karma

Law of karma

A Spiritual Athlete once asked her guru, "What is the law of karma?" The guru replied, "The law of karma is like the boomerang. Whatever you send out into the world, good or bad, will come back to you." The Spiritual Athlete asked, "So if I do good things, good things...

read more
Self-inquiry

Self-inquiry

A koan about cultivating self-inquiry in the tradition of Ramana Maharshi: One day, a student approached their guru and asked, "Guruji, how can I cultivate self-inquiry and discover my true nature?" The guru replied, "Imagine you are standing on the edge of a great...

read more
Share This