The pupils of the Tendai school used to study meditation before Zen entered Japan.
Four of them who were intimate friends promised one another to observe seven days of silence.
On the first day all were silent.
Their meditation had begun auspiciously, but when night came and the oil lamps were growing dim one of the pupils could not help exclaiming to a servant: "Fix those lamps."
The second pupils was surprised to hear the first one talk. "We are not supposed to say a word," he remarked.
"You two are stupid. Why did you talk?" asked the third.
"I am the only one who has not talked," concluded the fourth pupil...
As I read this story a few days ago, I decided to be silent for some time during a day, when my mind becomes too busy with too many thoughts. There was really a slow motion passing from one state of mind to another. Then I found that this is the best way to ‘escape from the world’. Though there are various ways you can experience this silence, but I found the prayer time to be more rejuvenating.
Slowly as days passed, I became keenly aware of the path that outlines this whole process. First my mind was fighting with different thoughts; noise from outside, the day conversations, the disappointments, tomorrows’ possible happenings, etc. it was hard fight for my mind to step aside these thoughts.
When the fight was over, one thing I was able to feel was: emptiness. There was a space for god to enter. Then was thanking him, for the day, for my birth, for the parents, for his blessings and everything that he gave me. Then came the critical part called confession, which my conscience ever dared to make to any, even to myself.
At last, there was happiness in my mind and in my soul; at least I could feel like that.
My experience: Silence and prayer can bring you not only happiness but a lot of self-discovery.
No comments:
Post a Comment