The Beauty of All Things

I was looking for a story or two from Venerable Master Hsing Yun which I posted from my old blog, but I found the post below instead. Written back in March 23rd, 2007. I tend to write a bit more back then. These days, I use my camera instead. Maybe I can find a happy medium. The quote from the entry below by Lin Chi always gets me. It makes me stand still and look at all the things around me. Appreciating what I have and what I have not. This life is a gift, but is there more to life than life itself? There's another memorable quote which I read last night by a philosopher named John Locke:

No man's knowledge can go beyond his experiences.

For some reason I find that so true, somewhat sad yet beautiful.

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While I was driving home the other day, I was thinking about non-attachment. For instance, I love music, yet I have made myself a slave. I love to read and look at new things, for I made myself a slave to those things, as well. I once read that it is the things that we love that make us blind and deaf. I guess that's somewhat true. I imagine myself a world without music [but where will it go?!?]... I'm sure it'll be difficult at first, but I wonder if I will 'hear' something - different? I guess it depends on how receptive I am.

I finally mailed the photobooks of Medina which I made for my nephews yesterday. I don't know why I took so long to do it. It was last July... Where did the time go? I still have her picture on my phone. We really don't know what we miss until they're gone. How trite, but yet real. I still wonder where our loved ones go when they leave...

I posted the story below a year ago. Exactly why I rehash material I do not know. Maybe I just want to keep remembering. If I find something worthwhile, I think it's worth the little time don't you think? No matter how long you've been away, remember to come back to it. I try to keep myself grounded every now and then by re-watching the movies that I love, re-reading stories that are significant to me, watching kids play, listening to my friends and family talk - closely. Life gives you a good reminder every now and then. But again, it all depends on how receptive we are.

The following piece is by Thich Nhat Hanh. To me, this is one of those reminders. Thanks again for reading everyone and have a wonderful weekend.

APPRECIATING EARTH
For many years I have told this story. Suppose two astronauts go to the moon. When they arrive, they have an accident and find out that they have only enough oxygen for two days. There is no hope of someone coming from Earth in time to rescue them. They have only two days to live. If you asked them at that moment, "What is your deepest wish?" they would answer, "To be back home walking on the beautiful planet Earth." That would be enough for them; they would not want anything else. They would not want to be the head of a large corporation, a big celebrity or president of the United States. They would not want anything except to be back on Earth—to be walking on Earth, enjoying every step, listening to the sounds of nature and holding the hand of their beloved while contemplating the moon.

We should live every day like people who have just been rescued from the moon. We are on Earth now, and we need to enjoy walking on this precious, beautiful planet. The Zen master Lin Chi said, "The miracle is not to walk on water but to walk on the Earth." I cherish that teaching. I enjoy just walking, even in busy places like airports and railway stations. In walking like that, with each step caressing our Mother Earth, we can inspire other people to do the same. We can enjoy every minute of our lives.

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Currently listeninging:
Nuno Malo - White Bodhisattva