A poor horse could be the best horse - zen articles

 After plumvillageindia news of vesak 2022, the community practicing mindfulness near Mysore, is back to life. On the traditions of Thich Nhat Hanh with basics of nonviolance, compassion, (ahimsa and karuna) retreats have begun. This WordPress site is a practicing center, a true home away from home. A monastery as well as a short stay place. 

Here we give some dharma talks by Br. Ranga Nath Master, on zen practice

  After visiting Damya and seeing him attain a perfect composure, my mind became more puzzled. How could he do that and why not others? 

Buddha tells a story to throw light on this. In the horse families there are three kinds of horses. The first one is born to run and born to win. It has good health, good attitude. So, with brief teachings it easily runs.

The second one needs a disciplining, a  regular teaching and even punishments and it catches up. The third one is a poor horse. It is not at all capable of running. Its very manufacture is like that. 

Similarly the humans are also of three kinds. The first one is the best born to win and shine. The second one also shines when supported by training and coaxing.The third one is born with imperfections and is destined to suffer. 

When you hear this story you know every one wants to be the best horse. But the way of the final outcome is strange.

Those who sit perfectly in lotus position and watch their breathing would pass through a lot of hardship to find composure. They will have a lot of luggage to  unburden like name, fame etc. 

The irony here is that the worst horse is the best horse. The horse of the like of Damya has not much to lose  because his accumulations are very small. The teacher asks Damya to detach and he  has very brief attachments. So he goes to the marrow of the teaching easily.

If you have passed through lots of imperfections and suffering in this life, you stand on an advantage; you are specially picked and chosen.

But it still depends on the worst horse.  It has to have enough wisdom to see the futility of mind made short lived scenarioes. It has to have enough courage to jump into the unknown. And have strong faith that if he takes a leap,  there would certainly be a net available to lift him up. 

Here you see the Indian mind unable to come out of its box, unable to take courage to leap into unknown and with utter lack of faith required to take bold steps. This mind always wants to play a safe game, follow footsteps of fore fathers and meet the fate of their elders, call life a mirage.  


 




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