[world-vedic] Fwd: A Zen Story

[Guest guest]

>Vrinda

>Vrinda

>A Zen Story

>Thu, 1 Jul 1999 06:59:38 EDT

>

>

> >

> >A ZEN STORY

> >

> >A master craftsman in ancient China was commissioned by the

> >emperor to make a cabinet for the emperor's bedroom in the

> >Imperial Palace. The craftsman, a Zen monk, told the emperor

> >that he would not be able to work for 5 days. The monk was

> >seen by the emperor's spies simply sitting, apparently doing

> >nothing for the entire time. Then, when 5 days passed, the

> >monk got up. Within 3 days, he had made the most extraordinary

> >cabinet anyone had ever seen. The emperor was so pleased and

> >so curious that he had the monk brought before him and asked

> >what he had been doing the 5 days before he had begun his work.

> >

> >The monk replied:

> >

> > "All the first day, I spent releasing every thought of

> >failure, of dread, of punishment if my work should displease

> >the emperor."

> >

> > "All the second day, I spent releasing every thought of

> >inadequacy and every belief that I might lack the skill to

> >produce a cabinet worthy of the emperor."

> > "All the third day, I spent releasing every hope and desire

> >for fame, glory and reward if I should produce a cabinet that

> >would please the emperor."

> >

> > "All the fourth day, I spent releasing the pride that might

> >arise in me if I should succeed in my task and earn the praise

> >of the emperor."

> >

> > "And all the fifth day, I spent beholding in my mind the

> >clear vision of that cabinet which I knew even an emperor would

> >desire, which now stands before you."

> >

> >

> >

> >

 

 

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