Short story: A bird does not disturb the master's meditation
By emptychair
@innertalks (23742)
Australia
March 25, 2023 11:03pm CST
A Zen monk was seated cross-legged under a large tree, meditating, quietly, when a passing tramp, yelled out to him:
"Watch out, old man. A bird in the tree sits right above your head."
Just then, plop, a dollop, lands on the master's head.
The master does not bat an eye, but keeps meditating, just the same way, as before.
The tramp, observing this, then said:
"Obliviated from the world, ensures nothing, because the world comes to you, just the same."
The master opened one eye, and winked, as he said:
"The bird has dropped its message. I have received it."
"Great minds receive all messages, and gain something new from them."
"The still mind receives all, sometimes through the body."
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
Stillness can stay stillness, despite any outer coverings.
6 people like this
5 responses
@crossbones27 (52976)
• Mojave, California
26 Mar 23
Sit their long enough something will hit you. I actually tried this for genius Ideas. Till this date Crossbones has no genius ideas. Can't a homie get a meteoroid to the head. It would make me feel better. 
3 people like this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
26 Mar 23
It apparently worked for Isaac Newton too, when an apple fell on his head, and he came up with the theory of gravity, as a result. A weighty problem to solve.
@crossbones27 (52976)
• Mojave, California
26 Mar 23
@innertalks I heard that before, I will wait,
3 people like this
@sjvg1976 (42727)
• Delhi, India
26 Mar 23
@innertalks Before meditation, the person might have checked that place, why would he sit under the tree where there is a danger of falling a branch on his head?
2 people like this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
27 Mar 23
@sjvg1976 I am sure he would have had a cursory glance at the tree, but even Zen masters can become complacent, if this was his favourite spot for meditating, and sometimes bad luck just happens.
The branch, might sometimes not show signs of falling, but fall just the same.
Even the Buddha sat under such a tree to meditate, a large and sacred fig tree, known as the Bodhi tree.
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
26 Mar 23
Yes, we should pick a good spot to meditate too though.
If a large tree branch had fallen down on his head, instead of the soft bird droppings, he might have been injured, but maybe he checked the safety of the tree, as any good Zen master would have done, but a bird alighting on the branch just above him, well, that was just bad luck for him, I guess.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
26 Mar 23
Yes, usually nothing, but if it had been a large branch of the tree that fell down onto his head, instead of the soft droppings of the bird, that might have disturbed him just enough to see if he was hurt by the branch, or not, before he continued meditating.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28390)
• Singapore
27 Mar 23
Yes, meditation need not lead us to being oblivious to the realities of the world we are in now.
Accepting the realies but also latching on to a higher level of consciousness will lead us to a more fulfilling life.
But we still need to be rooted to enjoy the life here.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
27 Mar 23
Meditation should not be used to escape the world, but more to help us to better understand the world, and our own place in it, all helping to make the world a better place for all.
We need to be more like a tree, always rooted to love, and planted richly in God's soils of life, not in its spoils, which only spoils it for all.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
28 Mar 23
@Shiva49 Yes, everything should serve us in life, not us serve it, unless that is God, of course, but even Jesus Christ said that he did not come to be served, but to serve.
So, even God can serve us and help us to live better lives here too
@Shiva49 (28390)
• Singapore
28 Mar 23
@innertalks Yes, meditation should help us become better human beings by understanding our true role and meaning of life here.
It should not distance us from the realities of life as a vent to seek refuge in an esoteric pursuit divorced from others.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Apr 23
When one is focused it heightens their senses and in turn their world.
Reminds me of another saying, one learns a lot more from listening than talking. Talk less, listen more...
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
13 Apr 23
I guess that writing does not fit into that saying, as we listen, when we write, perhaps to our inner self, or even to God, and other higher beings, that teach us in our dreams, meditations, and writings.
Or, perhaps it does, if we call writing listening, not talking.
