Chrysanthemum styled porcelain vase with three colors from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) at the National Museum of China from Wikipedia…..
In my study of all things Buddhism, I came across a little book called “The Little Book of Zen Haiku, Koans, Sayings” from Barnes and Noble, and edited by Manuela Dunn Mascetti. Now, Koans are stories that are meant to be puzzling to help the student gain enlightenment after meditating on the story – sometimes for great lengths of time.
The Koan that I am sitting with is called “Tipping Over A Vase”.
Hyakujo wished to send a monk to open a new monastery. He told hi disciples that whoever answered a question most ably would be appointed. Placing a water vase on the ground, he asked, “Who can say what this is without calling its name?”
The Chief monk said, “No one can call it a wooden shoe.”
Isan, the cooking monk, tipped over the vase with his foot and went out.
Hyakujo smiled and said, “The chief monk loses.” And, Isan became the master of the new monastery.
The point of the Koan is to show that truth, as symbolized by the water vase, can only be shown. The cooking monk makes this demonstration very effectively.
As one meditates on the story, the idea is to assimilate the message into one’s life. As I contemplated, I realized that President Obama is very much like the cooking monk. He is being called out of the kitchen (Chicago and area) to open a new era of politics. And, Obama has no other way to give Americans and the World the truth then to show the truth, over and over.
One of the leadership tools that I used to teach in my Organizational Behaviour Class was “How to Refute Rumour”. The only way was to ignore it, not comment on it, and show the employees what the truth was.
Truth is healing! It gives us a spiritual peace. We feel balanced and at one with all things… Nature is our friend. Sadly, we as a civilization seem to have moved far from Truth. Perhaps we have reached the furthest swing of the pendulum and we are now ready to start kicking over vases, politicians, corrupt CEO’s and Boards, to get at the Truth.
May you find Truth in all you do!
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Thanks for reading this blog post. Sharing is good if it is kind and either has questions or tells about an experience.
Blessings,
Judy