Tag: dailysuccesshabits
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Letting Go of Minimalism
As a younger man, I prided myself on being a minimalist. I never owned more possessions that what I could fit into a duffel bag. I did my best to avoid clothing purchases; choosing to make due with the free t-shirts that were passed out at college fairs and job recruitment events. When I finally…
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Rolling in the Grass
As I write this, it feels like hundreds of ants are biting my arms and legs. I have a grass allergy, and prolonged exposure results in itching and small bumps appearing on my skin. It’s been this way my whole life. When I was a child I loved playing outdoors with my friends. We spent…
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possession
I had just turned 17 when my older sister and I went to see a movie that had taken the public by storm. It was called “The Exorcist,” and it was based on a bestselling book by the same name. Since at least half of the world’s current population wasn’t born by 1974, you might…
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goodness and mercy
A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. — Luke 6:44-46 The other day I was working the New York Times crossword when one of…
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The perfection of character
“The practice of Zen,” declared Yamada Koun Roshi (1907-1989), “is the perfection of character.” To those accustomed to thinking of Zen as a means of “living in the present” or relieving stress, that stark pronouncement may come as a surprise. In any event, it merits and rewards a closer look. To begin with, Yamada Roshi…
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No front or back
Few words in the English language are as multidimensional in meaning or as laden with emotion as the word integrity. Derived from the Latin integer, the English word integrity has three distinct, established meanings. In its most common usage, integrity is synonymous with honesty, incorruptibility, and fidelity to a set of principles and values. It…
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How to Save The World
A student went to his Zen teacher and found him working in the garden. The teacher greeted his student and asked, “How is Buddhism in the south?” The student replied, “There is much discussion.” The Zen teacher paused a moment, and then he said, “Come help me plant radishes in the garden.” The student asked,…
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Freeloading Chickens
One common misconception about chickens is that they lay eggs every day. In truth, their levels of production increase and decrease based on the weather. In the summer months when the days are long chickens tend to lay eggs every other day. However, they lay fewer eggs in the fall when the days get shorter,…
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94. Everyday Mind is the True Path
Like a laser beam, Hui Neng’s teaching has pointed directly to the core of zen forover 1500 years. It can easily be said that his prolific insights have guided manythousands over the centuries. Prior to his death in 713, Hui-Neng left a few interesting notes on how to approach“formal interview” with the zen teacher. The…
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93. 24/7 Zen
When we maintain poise and equanimity, not only during meditation but also inmobile states – such as walking, working, exercising, etc. remaining patient andcalm regardless of circumstance, the Great Way will most certainly manifestunerringly. Without distinctions, without judgements, without opinions, the wordsand thoughts that occupy your mind from morning til evening will slow downconsiderably. Your…