posted December 02, 2004 08:09 PM         

The Master in Zen is not a master over others, but a master of himself --and this self-mastery is reflected in his every gesture and his every word. He is not a teacher with a doctrine to impart, nor a supernatural messenger with a direct line to God, but simply one who has become a living example of the highest potential that lies within each and every human being. In the eyes of the Master, a disciple finds his own truth reflected. In the silence of the Master's presence, the disciple can fall more easily into the silence of his own being. The community of seekers that arises around a Master becomes an energy field that supports each unique individual in finding his or her own inner light. Once that light is found, the disciple comes to understand that the outer Master was just a catalyst, a device to provoke the awakening of the inner.

Here I would like to say something, which I have been keeping a secret my whole life. I had always wanted not to be a Master to anybody.... To be a master is a very strange job. You have to convince people about the heart by argument and reason, rationality, philosophy; you have to use the mind as a servant for the heart. The master's work is to take your mind away from you, so that your whole energy moves into your heart. Do you see the point? The word "master" creates the idea of the disciple, the follower. How can there be a master without a disciple, a follower? But in the spiritual sense of the word "master" means mastery of oneself. It has no relationship with any following; it does not depend on the crowd. A master can be just alone. The new man I have been talking about will be a master of his own self.

posted December 02, 2004 08:10 PM         

You are not accidental. Existence needs you. Without you something will be missing in existence and nobody can replace it. That's what gives you dignity, that the whole existence will miss you. The stars and sun and moon, the trees and birds and earth - everything in the universe will feel a small place is vacant which cannot be filled by anybody except you.

This gives you a tremendous joy, a fulfillment that you are related to existence, and existence cares for you. Once you are clean and clear, you can see tremendous love falling on you from all dimensions.

Commentary:
This naked figure sits on the lotus leaf of perfection, gazing at the beauty of the night sky. She knows that "home" is not a physical place in the outside world, but an inner quality of relaxation and acceptance. The stars, the rocks, the trees, the flowers, fish and birds - all are our brothers and sisters in this dance of life. We human beings tend to forget this, as we pursue our own private agendas and believe we must fight to get what we need. But ultimately, our sense of separateness is just an illusion, manufactured by the narrow preoccupations of the mind.

posted December 03, 2004 04:32 AM         

Hi trill ,

I didnt write them. They are actually from the Osho Zen Tarot cards. (I put a link to them above, for a free reading) They are Osho's words, and if you dont know already, I love that guy. He has changed my life. I think you would really enjoy his books. One of my favorites is "Love, Freedom and Aloneness". Here's a link you might like to explore with more of his wise words. You are right, his words are very lovely and worthy of much thought. I soak them right up and think everyone should read at least one of his books.
http://www.otoons.com/osho/askosho.htm

Neostar, I bet you'd like him too.

posted December 03, 2004 10:50 AM         

Be a fool in the Taoist sense, in the Zen sense. Donīt try to create a wall of knowledge around you. Whatsoever experience comes to you, let it happen, and then go on dropping it. Go on cleaning your mind continuously; go on dying to the past so you remain in the present, herenow, as if just born, just a babe.

In the beginning it is going to be very difficult. The world will start taking advantage of you...let them. They are poor fellows. Even if you are cheated and deceived and robbed, let it happen, because that which is really yours cannot be robbed from you, that which is really yours nobody can steal from you.

And each time you donīt allow situations to corrupt you, that opportunity will become an integration inside. Your soul will become more crystallized.

Osho Dang Dang Doko Dang Chapter 2

Commentary:
Moment to moment, and with every step, the Fool leaves the past behind. He carries nothing more than his purity, innocence and trust, symbolized by the white rose in his hand. The pattern on his waistcoat contains the colors of all four elements of the tarot, indicating that he is in harmony with all that surrounds him. His intuition is functioning at its peak. At this moment the Fool has the support of the universe to make this jump into the unknown. Adventures await him in the river of life.

The card indicates that if you trust your intuition right now, your feeling of the 'rightness' of things, you cannot go wrong. Your actions may appear 'foolish' to others, or even to yourself, if you try to analyze them with the rational mind. But the 'zero' place occupied by the Fool is the numberless number where trust and innocence are the guides, not skepticism and past experience. (scary true!)

posted December 05, 2004 01:10 PM         

Here's my card for the day. "Letting Go"