“A monk decides to meditate alone.
Away from his monastery, he takes a boat and goes to the middle of the lake, closes his eyes and begins to meditate.
After a few hours of unperturbed silence,
he suddenly feels the blow of another boat hitting his.
With his eyes still closed, he feels his anger rising and, when he opens his eyes, he is ready to shout at the boatman who dared to disturb his meditation.
But when he opened his eyes, he saw that it was an empty boat, not tied up, floating in the middle of the lake …
At that moment, the monk achieved self-realization and understood that anger is within him; it simply needs to hit an external object to provoke it.
After that, whenever he met someone who irritated or provoked his anger, he remembers;
“The other person is just an empty boat.
Anger is inside me. “
Comment by Master e: The storehouse of every emotion is inside of us.
Without the practice of insight, calm and compassion we’re just like ticking time bombs that just need something to trigger us.
Remember that – that living life bound as a sentient being trapped and wrapped up in the poisons means to be able to do harm to another in every instant.
This is why we put it all down and meditate. Then as my teacher said we come in harmony with the way and live a delightful life.
This is why training is so important. Your time with your teacher helps cools the flames of greed, hatred and delusion.
Your own practice away from the teacher shows your commitment to your vow to do no harm and become a blessing to all beings.
Training isn’t about acquiring more knowledge – it’s about becoming free of the adventitious afflictions.
The Buddha called them adventitious stains. Why? Because they can be wiped away. And we clear them away by seeing our true nature and nurturing awareness. Then afflictions become self-liberated in open loving awareness. And actions arise spontaneously to benefit all beings.
The birthplace of a Buddha is a sentient being. You right now have the fertile ground from which a Buddha arises. You have to believe that. Use the power that arises from that wisdom to breakthrough your limited self and abide in the empty suchness of every experience.
Till the fertile soil with meditation and plant the seed of Bodhicitta to awaken yourself and help all beings do the same. This will propel you swiftly to wipe away anger and frustration and abide in the awakened empty clear mind.
Anger and frustration are you just clinging to your own way. So put it down and Rest in the Radiance of your Buddha Mind which is always here now.
Anger is temporary and fleeting. Your anger arose becase of your lack of training. Put it down and awaken moment to moment.
Now you know so practice tenderly to see that your anger is empty and you are empty too.
Sending you all BIG LOVE ❤️
Zen Master e