Zen story: Decisions
By emptychair
@innertalks (23736)
Australia
December 30, 2022 11:10pm CST
The Zen student was trying to make a decision, but he ended up not making any decision at all, and doing nothing in a situation, where something should really have been done.
The Zen master, Atrop Zerploski found out about this non-decision of his student, and he went to have a word with him.
He told his student that if a decision is not made when it should have been made, trouble will always result for you, as a result of your non-decision.
Thoughts not made, and therefore decisions not made, ensure that a delusive mind stays deluded.
Understanding comes from making decisions, and making right decisions leads to living from the truth, not from delusion, any more.
We need to lead our donkey to the right decision, not leave it just eating grass in the paddock.
The wisdom that is enlightenment is an ingrained part of who we are.
We need to stop working from a deluded mind to live from this enlightened state instead.
Awareness transcends delusion. Delusion keeps us bound to the world. Awareness cuts us free from all bonds.
And yet, delusion is not the culprit entirely; it is more us following our deluded thoughts that can get us into trouble.
Think the thoughts that come, but then discriminate between the darker thoughts of delusion, and the light, shining thoughts, of enlightenment.
Thoughts come and go, but the aware thoughts come from our true selves, and so bring us towards enlightenment.
We must find the truth within ourselves, not expect to dig it up with our minds in the outside dung pits, of other's thoughts.
We must make decisions when we are being called upon to make one.
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
"There's no wrong time to make the right decision."
Dalton McGuinty, a Canadian Politician said this.
5 people like this
5 responses
@innertalks (23736)
• Australia
31 Dec 22
Yes, being too cautious is sometimes akin to not making a decision at all, as it might just be a half-baked, hesitant decision, that we make cautiously, just for the sake of making a decision, and so it turns out bad.
3 people like this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
7 Jan 23
Everyone has that kind of dilemma to decide to decide or to decide not to decide not. Making decision is difficult to make a decision. That's the general premise.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23736)
• Australia
8 Jan 23
Yes, most of us are a bit afraid of making a wrong decision, and so as a result of our fear, we can often then delay making any decisions at all, and a non-decision then becomes our decision in a way then too.
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
31 Dec 22
And for me to thine own self be true.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23736)
• Australia
31 Dec 22
Yes, if we cannot be true and honest with our own self, we probably will not be true and honest with others then either.
@innertalks (23736)
• Australia
31 Dec 22
Yes, it's always better to make a decision than to just sit on the fence, not making one at all.
@Shiva49 (28377)
• Singapore
31 Dec 22
Sometimes, no decision is better than a hurried decision which can prove costly.
My father used to say - when our intentions are honorable, any time is a good time - no need to ponder and worry about the outcome.
I tend to enjoy the ponderings of the mind and give it its due, but go by what is good for society in general. That will take care of us too then.
Good to attune the mind to the inner knowing so that our ride is smooth with less dithering.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23736)
• Australia
31 Dec 22
Yes, a hurried decision is not good either, but continued procrastinating over the decision is also not good.
If we can stick close to our inner knowing, most decisions will be made for the best, I would say too.
@innertalks (23736)
• Australia
1 Jan 23
@Shiva49 Yes, life is more flexible these days, and we have more power to run our own lives, without interference from the rituals of the past, as enforced on as by society, and our family too.
Sometimes, we do get a lucky break, and meet someone that can alter the direction of our lives for the good too. It happened a few times in my own life too.
@Shiva49 (28377)
• Singapore
1 Jan 23
@innertalks Yes, and at times decisions can change the course of our lives irrevocably.
In my case, it was serendipity too as I met a few who gave me a new direction.
In earlier days arranged marriages were de jure in India, and our partners could make or break our lives.
Many were stuck in loveless marriages too.
1 person likes this
