129-Wisdom in the breeze - Buddhism in daily life

Wisdom in the breeze

The following story was reported from a Buddhist temple:

An aged master saw a group of tourists walking up the mountain, the temple was high in the mountains, the view was magical, it was a beautiful spring day.

The monk watched the colorful hustle and bustle, whole families puffed higher and higher, made a rest, some held picnics in the sun, the monk listened to them, he wanted to know what moves the people, what they speak, what they think. Then he heard how one man said to the other, he had heard that one should sit down there, where the writing monks would lay out their sutras (doctrinal texts of Buddhism) to dry, the wisdom of the writings would then be distributed by the wind to those present, besides, the wind is healing, the bad thoughts would give way, this is, by the way, also known to everyone.

However, the story was completely new to the aged master, he had to smile inwardly, it struck him what a strange idea of the teachings of the Buddha people had. He decided to make the tourists think. After a short while he lay down on the grass, pulled his robe down around the top so that he was naked from the belt up. The sun warmed him, he enjoyed the beautiful spring day.

Immediately the tourists began to talk about him, he heard their voices all the way over, whether such a behavior would be appropriate for a monk, so asked one woman, the other man was so astonished about the behavior of the master that he became vociferously excited.

Other monks came along the way, they spoke to the master, they did not know such behavior, normally monks are always clothed, only among themselves sometimes exposed, but never to third parties. Such behavior would not suit a person of respect like him, decency must be preserved, he should behave, so all those present cackled at the old man.

But the old man did not let himself be distracted, turned away again and again, and did not even seem to notice anything.

When it became too stupid for him, he turned to the pile and spoke: "Here goes the story that it would bring even luck to be touched by the wind, which blew before over the sutras. But here is only ink on paper, dead matter drying in the wind, none of it has a quality that could rub off on the wind.

Here, on the other hand, I sit, a real, living monk, full of wisdom and full of compassion, living the teaching of the great teacher in the midst of my brothers, but you would rather squat in the wind blowing from dead paper than ask me anything. In order to show you your senseless deeds I have made myself free, I wanted to make you think. I hope that you now no longer strive for the things that are subject to decay.

Well, the way is also here the aim!

As a flame goes out from the wind, is blown away and concepts do not fit any more, so is the way freed from "spirit and body": He can no longer be grasped conceptually

- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero

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