Zen story: The way of the foot, should not lead us astray
@innertalks (22662)
Australia
May 1, 2025 9:49pm CST
The old Zen master walked along the river, looking down at his feet, as he walked, and then a man, walking towards him said, to him.
"Why look down, when the whole world should be looking up at God, not down at his feet."
The old master laughed, and replied:
"When you are as old as I am, you will also find God at your feet, and not up in the clouds anymore either. God walks with us, not above us."
"The zen of walking requires us to meet God at each step of our lives, but not to tread on life, by treading on the feet of God. We should tread though life, as ourselves."
"I watch my feet to ensure I am always being me in my feet, and then I will be me in all of me too."
The stranger looked up into the sky, and replied, as he walked off, past the old master.
"Well, as Jimi Hendrix, once said:
'Excuse me, while I kiss the sky.'"
The old master looked back, as the man was walking on, and answered:
"The sky still remains the sky after such a kiss, but do you remain you."
"Let everything change you, but keep walking forwards, not just stopped, forever looking at the sky."
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
The world is really at our feet, when God walks each step with us.
3 people like this
3 responses
@Deepizzaguy (109186)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
2 May
The word of God says that His Word is a lamp on our feet.
2 people like this
@innertalks (22662)
• Australia
2 May
Yes, I believe that is right, and that comes from one of the Psalms, Psalm, 119, verse 105.
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Without God's light guiding us, we would just stumble, and fumble, around, and about, in the dark.
@Deepizzaguy (109186)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
12h
@innertalks You are right since we all need a purpose to live.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (50451)
• Mojave, California
2 May
The world could be at our feet or any direction really. The world lets you know when you need to see something. What people need to learn its not man made. You all take it from there and please do not create another man made bible. It could just be what your brain interprets in stressful situations, but the brain always does one thing when it thinks its going to die. Show you pretty things and do not ask me how I know that.
2 people like this
@innertalks (22662)
• Australia
2 May
Well, the world is the world, and we are a part of it too, so in some way, we move in the world's direction, when it moves, but we can influence the moving a bit, by what we choose to do in the world too.
Something usually lets us know when we need to know something, and sometimes it is the world, and sometimes something else too, I expect.
The answers are not all in yet, despite all of the man-made bibles claiming they have the answers too.
@Shiva49 (27151)
• Singapore
16h
That reminds me about a boat that sank and people on it trying to escape. A few were terrified, and looked at the sky for divine help but ultimately lost their lives. Some looked below for getting a foothold on protruding stones and gingerly but steadily made their way to the shore.
As my life is running its course, I try to imbibe the wonders of nature and show my gratitude to our creator for giving this blessing. Every step matters now, as I do not know when will be the last one. Living the moments with introspection and thankfulness for this sojourn.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (22662)
• Australia
10h
Every step has always mattered, but as we approach the finish line, the steps can seem to be more important for us that we stay on the right path, as it is harder to get back on it, when every step becomes a little extra laboured too, because of our age.
We need to keep listening to life's whispering its truths to us, and not let the increasing noise block out the truths, that are always there for those who listen quietly to them. The world shouts its rubbish at us, but we must stay close to the truths there inside of us, that connecting to God brings to us too.
