Category Artwork (Digital) / Abstract
Species Tiger
Size 500 x 375px
File Size 150.2 kB
A zen monk, formerly very devout in his prayers and meditations, got into a terrible accident and was injured and unable to practice his kung-fu (which is an integral part of their ways). After watching the monk grow weary and steadily lose faith, the zen master came to him one morning before the sun rose and called him out. "I want you to walk with me."
The monk followed the master, facing west. After a few moments, the zen master turned to the monk and said, "look down... Tell me what you see."
The monk looked down and replied with a sad face. "I see my shadow."
"Then follow it for ten minutes with me," the zen master said. After ten minutes, he stopped the monk again and said, "tell me what you see."
The monk smirked, slightly annoyed. "I see my shadow..."
"Then follow it for another ten minutes with me." They continued following the shadow for another ten minutes, then the master stopped him again. "Tell me what you see."
The monk made a face, then turned to his master. "Again, I see my shadow... Why must you ask me so many times when that is all there is to see?"
The master turned to the distraught monk. "My son... If that is all you see, the shadow, then why do you stare at it? Do you not know there is light just behind you?"
The monk turned around and beheld the monastary, surrounded by the brilliant morning sun, and smiled.
"Wherever you might find shadow, just turn around and you will see the warming light."
The monk followed the master, facing west. After a few moments, the zen master turned to the monk and said, "look down... Tell me what you see."
The monk looked down and replied with a sad face. "I see my shadow."
"Then follow it for ten minutes with me," the zen master said. After ten minutes, he stopped the monk again and said, "tell me what you see."
The monk smirked, slightly annoyed. "I see my shadow..."
"Then follow it for another ten minutes with me." They continued following the shadow for another ten minutes, then the master stopped him again. "Tell me what you see."
The monk made a face, then turned to his master. "Again, I see my shadow... Why must you ask me so many times when that is all there is to see?"
The master turned to the distraught monk. "My son... If that is all you see, the shadow, then why do you stare at it? Do you not know there is light just behind you?"
The monk turned around and beheld the monastary, surrounded by the brilliant morning sun, and smiled.
"Wherever you might find shadow, just turn around and you will see the warming light."
FA+

Comments