A Spiritual Athlete once approached her Zen guru and asked, “How can I deepen my meditation practice and make progress on my spiritual journey?” The guru replied, “Imagine a river, constantly flowing and ever-changing. Many people try to grasp the water, but it always slips through their fingers. In the same way, the Spiritual Athlete should not try to force or grasp their meditation practice. Instead, they should allow the thoughts and experiences to flow like water in a river, observing them without attachment or judgment.”
The guru continued, “As you sit in meditation, think of yourself as the sky, vast and unchanging. The thoughts and experiences that arise are like clouds, which come and go, never altering the true nature of the sky. By cultivating this attitude in meditation, the Spiritual Athlete can remain grounded in the present moment, without being swept away by the current of thoughts or emotions. In time, this will lead to deeper insights, a greater sense of inner peace, and ultimately, a more profound connection with the essence of your being.”
Anonymous
This koan emphasizes the importance of cultivating a non-attachment and non-judgmental attitude in meditation as a key aspect of the Spiritual Athlete’s journey. Rather than trying to force or control their meditation experience, the Spiritual Athlete practices observing thoughts and emotions without becoming entangled in them. By practicing this open and receptive attitude in meditation, the Spiritual Athlete can cultivate a deeper sense of inner peace and self-awareness, 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?”