Monday, September 19, 2011

Zen Stories # 19 - Sounds of Silence

The pupils of the Tendai school used to study meditation before Zen entered Japan. Four of them who were intimate friends promised one another to observe seven days of silence. 

On the first day all were silent. Their meditation had begun auspiciously, but when night came and the oil lamps were growing dim one of the pupils could not help exclaiming to a servant: "Fix those lamps."

The second pupils was surprised to hear the first one talk. "We are not supposed to say a word," he remarked.

"You two are stupid. Why did you talk?" asked the third.

"I am the only one who has not talked," concluded the fourth pupil.

Reflection: Oaths and promises are lightly spoken - hardly kept. Try to keep the promises you make, otherwise you will lose your credibility.

Cheers!

1 comment:

  1. Perfect..... am loosing my credibility.Hope i wont let it grow.. am arresting the trend! Thanks for your boost! Cheers!

    ReplyDelete

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