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Zen and the Art of Archery
“One of the most significant features we notice in the practice of archery, and in fact of all the arts as they are studied in Japan and probably also in other Far Eastern countries, is that they are not intended for utilitarian purposes only or for purely aesthetic enjoyments, but are meant to train the mind; indeed, to bring it into contact with the ultimate reality.Archery is, therefore, not practiced solely for hitting the target; the swordsman does not wield the sword just for the sake of outdoing his opponent; the dancer does not dance just to perform certain rhythmical movements of the body. The mind has first to be attuned to the Unconscious.
If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an “artless art” growing out of the Unconscious.
In the case of archery, the hitter and the hit are no longer two opposing objects, but are one reality. The archer ceases to be conscious of himself as the one who is engaged in hitting the bull’s-eye which confronts him.
This state of unconsciousness is realized only when, completely empty and rid of the self, he becomes one with the perfecting of his technical skill, though there is in it something of a quite different order which cannot be attained by any progressive study of the art.”
~D.T. Suzuki
Introduction “Zen and the Art of Archery”
The biggest tragedy
“From the Buddhist point of view, there is a really big tragedy that is happening all the time.The fact that all beings, like you and me, you know, sentient beings, even so they are adorned with an enlightened-nature – wherever they go, enlightened-nature goes – they just miss it all the time. That is the biggest tragedy. It is so near, it is just so close, it is right here in front, even closer than in front of you. But most of us, we miss it. That is the biggest tragedy.”
What is soft is strong
“Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox:
what is soft is strong.”
~ Lao Tzu
The Cosmos is filled with precious gems
The Cosmos is filled with precious gems.
I want to offer a handful of them to you this morning.
Each moment you are alive is a gem,
shining through and containing earth and sky,
water and clouds.
It needs you to breathe gently
for the miracles to be displayed.
Suddenly you hear the birds singing,
the pines chanting,
see the flowers blooming,
the blue sky, the white clouds,
the smile and the marvelous look
of your beloved.You, the richest person on Earth,
who have been going around begging for a living,
stop being the destitute child.
Come back and claim your heritage.
We should enjoy our happiness
and offer it to everyone.
Cherish this very moment.
Let go of the stream of distress
and embrace Life fully in your arms.
I want to offer a handful of them to you this morning.
Each moment you are alive is a gem,
shining through and containing earth and sky,
water and clouds.
It needs you to breathe gently
for the miracles to be displayed.
Suddenly you hear the birds singing,
the pines chanting,
see the flowers blooming,
the blue sky, the white clouds,
the smile and the marvelous look
of your beloved.You, the richest person on Earth,
who have been going around begging for a living,
stop being the destitute child.
Come back and claim your heritage.
We should enjoy our happiness
and offer it to everyone.
Cherish this very moment.
Let go of the stream of distress
and embrace Life fully in your arms.
~Thich Nhat Hanh ~
Our True Heritage
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Eons of time
Is that what is meant by eons and eons of time ? 
Researchers have discovered the oldest known ape and old world monkey fossil in a riverbed in Tanzania. The fossils are approximately 25 million years old, and until now we knew little about this period of primate evolution. The finding sheds light on the divergence of old world monkeys and apes.
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Too many colours blind the eye
Too many colours blind the eye.
Too many tones deafen the ear.
Too many flavours dull the taste.
Too many thoughts derange the mind.
Too many desires weaken the heart.
The Sage observes the world
but trusts his inner vision.
He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky.
~ Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching )
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A jug fills drop by drop
Do not belittle your virtues saying, “They are nothing.” A jug fills drop by drop, so the wise person becomes brimful of virtue. Like garlands woven from a heap of flowers, fashion from your life as many good deeds.
~ Buddha ~
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