Our Lenten Collage Repost: A Parable
Saturday, 16 April 2011 08:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cjbanningThis is the fourth in a series of posts reposting content from "Our Lenten Collage," in which my cell at the time blogged our way through the Lenten season of 2009.
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009
A Parable
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him denyHave a parable:
himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34
This is not an ancient Buddhist teaching; I came up with this story this morning while I was in the shower. However, in some ways I think it's a very good description of my Lenten journey.
There was once a man who, seeking enlightenment, went to study under a very wise Zen master.
The master instructed the student to work on building a boat, and that as he performed each of the necessary tasks he should meditate on the nature of the Buddha. So the student set out and began to attend to the tasks given to him by the master. He took the trunk of a large oak tree and hollowed it out to make the hull. He smoothed it and polished it so the curve of the hull would cut smoothly through the water. It was laborious work, and thirty days and thirty nights passed before he had completed the boat.
Throughout this time, the student meditated on the nature of the Buddha. As he cut the wood, his thoughts centered on this mystery. As he ran the plane across the wood, he wondered about this puzzle. As he rubbed the sandpaper against the wood, he mused on no other subject. As he stained the wood, he asked himself, "What is the Buddha nature?" And as he varnished the hull with wood resin, he pondered that same question.
Eventually he was finished constructing the boat, and he took his work to the master.
"You have done excellent work, my son," said the master.
"But, master," the student said, "I have meditated for thirty days and thirty nights on the nature of the Buddha, and I have not found enlightenment."
"This is true," the master agreed. "But you have built me a boat." And then the master put the boat in the river, jumped inside, and sailed away.
Seeing this, the student was enlightened.
5 comments:
Cole.. I like your story. I have a friend who encourages herself by saying, "Forward motion!" with great thrusting of her fists.
That's what I thought of as I read your story.
Forward motion..
Dude . . . I loved it!
O, how I love the boats we make!
Good words, Cole.
Thanks for teaching us.
All that while in the shower? It would have taken me all week to think of such an interesting parable. :)
That blew my mind, Cole!
-Randy