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. One day, the door of the cage opens, and the bird hesitates, fearing the unknown. However, once it gathers the courage to leave the cage, it discovers the boundless sky and the freedom it has always longed for. In the same way, the Spiritual Athlete seeks Moksha by transcending the cage of attachment, desire, and ego that binds them to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. By realizing their true nature, which is beyond the limitations of the ego, they can experience the boundless freedom of Moksha.”
Anonymous
This koan emphasizes the importance of transcending attachment, desire, and ego as a key aspect of the Spiritual Athlete’s journey towards Moksha. Rather than being trapped in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, the Spiritual Athlete seeks to realize their true nature, which is beyond the limitations of the ego. By practicing meditation, mindfulness, and other spiritual practices, the Spiritual Athlete can cultivate a deeper understanding of their true nature and ultimately achieve Moksha, experiencing the boundless freedom and oneness 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?”