Many years ago a great teacher known as the Tree Roshi, lived in a tree, secluded, and meditated for many years. After his great awakening, not only birds flocked around him, but people from all over were drawn to see him. Great groups of people gathered and begged him to come down out of the tree and share his wisdom with them.
Finally, he had no choice.
The tree Roshi climbed down to earth, sat with others and listened to their needs.
"Please tell us what you have learned," they begged of him.
"Whatever is harmful to you, do not do to another," he replied simply. "Whatever you would bring you benefit, do to others as well."
"Is that it?" The people were disappointed. "Even an eight year old child knows that," they said.
"Yes," answered the Tree Roshi. "Even an eight year old child knows it, but even an eighty year old man cannot do it."
The fruit of all true practice is kindness, kindness to others and also to ourselves. It is easy to speak and read about kindness, it is another to make it into your flesh and bones
No comments:
Post a Comment