A student once asked his Zen master, “How can I cultivate love and compassion as a Spiritual Athlete?”
The master replied, “Imagine a person walking through a forest, seeing a butterfly struggling to break free from its cocoon. They could easily free the butterfly with their own hands, but they know that the struggle is necessary for the butterfly’s wings to become strong and healthy. In the same way, the Spiritual Athlete cultivates love and compassion by recognizing the beauty and value in the struggles of others, and offering support and encouragement without taking away their ability to grow and learn.
By practicing love and compassion in this way, the Spiritual Athlete can cultivate a deeper sense of connection and empathy with others, and ultimately achieve a greater sense of oneness with the universe.”
Anonymous
This koan emphasizes the importance of cultivating love and compassion as a key aspect of the Spiritual Athlete’s journey. Rather than being consumed by ego or self-interest, the Spiritual Athlete cultivates a deep sense of love and compassion for others, recognizing the beauty and value in their struggles and offering support and encouragement without taking away their ability to grow and learn. By practicing love and compassion in their daily life, the Spiritual Athlete can cultivate a deeper sense of connection and empathy with others, and ultimately achieve a greater sense of oneness and connection with the universe.
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Yearning for calm
In a village of endless storms, a seeker approached a wise sage, yearning for calm within the tempests of life.
The sage, perched on a rock, whispered, “Listen closely to the melody of rain, the chorus of the wind. As they ebb and flow, so do our hearts.”
Ever-changing
thoughts and feelings
A Spiritual Athlete, known for his physical prowess and mental discipline, approached his Zen master after an intense training session.
“Master,” he asked, “I have learned to control my body, to move with grace and strength, and to harness my breath. But when it comes to my mind, I struggle to find stillness amidst the ever-changing thoughts and feelings.”
Prayer
A Spiritual Athlete once approached her Zen guru with a question about prayer. She asked, “I have been contemplating the nature of prayer. It seems that when we pray, we are reaching out to an external deity. But is it possible that, in reality, we are praying to the unrevealed Self within us?”