A Zen teacher saw five of his students returning from the market, riding their bicycles. When they arrived at the monastery and had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?"
The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying the sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!" The teacher praised the first student, "You are a smart boy! When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over like I do."The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path!" The teacher commended the second student, "Your eyes are open, and you see the world."
The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant nam myoho renge kyo." The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel."
The fourth student replied, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all sentient beings." The teacher was pleased, and said to the fourth student, "You are riding on the golden path of non-harming."
The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle." The teacher sat at the feet of the fifth student and said, "Ahh.... I am your student!"
Monday, May 4, 2009
Bicycle Zen Proverb
Found on Jspiker's blog, My views of the world.
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I received this "Zen Bicycle Proverb" in an e-mail about five years ago and absolutely loved it. I saved it as a Word file and used to post it on my office door and was just preparing to do so when I realized that I'd lost the file. Very happy to find it here on your blog. It is going into a Word file and getting printed to be put up on my office door today.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Jason
Teacher in Japan