"Don't Take it Personally - But ..."

As soon as we hear that, we know we're about to be hit with a real zinger. Even if the advice comes from a trusted friend, and even - perhaps especially - if the advice is reasonable & necessary, it can feel like a kick in the guts. Why?

Until we deeply understand why, we can't accept & make good use of the many so-called "obstacles & difficulties" that arise in our meditation practice - and daily life.

“A young Samurai warrior stood respectfully before the aged Zen master and said, ‘Master, teach me about Heaven and Hell.’ The master snapped his head up in disgust and said, ‘Teach you about Heaven and Hell?! Why, I doubt that you could even learn to keep your own sword from rusting! You ignorant fool! How dare you suppose that you could understand anything I might have to say?’

The old man went on and on, becoming even more insulting, while the young swordsman’s surprise turned first to confusion and then to hot anger, rising by the moment. Master or no master, who can insult a Samurai and live?

At last, with teeth clenched and blood nearly boiling in fury, the warrior blindly drew his sword and prepared to end the old man’s sharp tongue and life all in one furious stroke. But at that very moment the master looked straight into his eyes and said gently, ‘That’s Hell.’

Even at the peak of his rage, the Samurai realized that the master had indeed given him the teaching he had asked for. He had hounded him into a living Hell, driven by uncontrolled anger and ego.

The young man, deeply humbled, sheathed his sword and bowed low in awe to this great spiritual teacher. Looking up into the master’s ancient, smiling face, he felt more love and compassion than he had ever felt in all his life – and at that point the master raised his index finger and said kindly, ‘And that’s Heaven.’

Life is a difficult school with powerful lessons, but try to remember that these are indeed lessons, and you’re in the middle of a wonderful education, not a meaningless nightmare.”

Bo Lozoff. “We’re all doing time.” Human Kindness Foundation, 1985. Available from: www.humankindness.org