The Art of Happiness

 

The art of being happy is to appreciate the things that we already have. This means that we are aware of these things and perceive them with mindfulness. This mindfulness in perception will help us to get in touch deeply with the treasures of the present moment. In this way, all these treasures turn into countless reasons for us to be happy. And when the conditions for our happiness are no longer available to us, we don‘t feel any regret because we have already savored and enjoyed the happiness in them.

When we come back to ourselves and observe ourselves, we will see that our mind is always running after its confusing ideas in the future. Doing that, it misses all the beauties that are a reality right here and now. We often recognize our true treasures only when we‘ve already lost them again. It is really a pity if we only learn to understand and appreciate the things when they‘ve already passed by. We should practice to appreciate the simple and usual things that are available right here and now.

If our father and mother, our grandfather and grandmother are still alive, we can be happy about that. If our children are still living with us, if they haven‘t left home yet to study in another city and to live their own life, that can be a source of happiness for us. During the time our children play pleasurably and create a lot of noise, we often feel distracted and exhausted by them. But when we bring to mind that our children are healthy and able to frolic, the joy will naturally come up in our hearts.

Every day we practice to come back to the present moment and to ourselves, we are present and awake, we recognize and appreciate the things that we are currently having. In this way, we will for sure experience a lot of joy and happiness.

In gratitude for every moment,

We discover the ultimate happiness.

With an alert mind, in touch with life

We are dwelling in the Here and Now.

- Thay Phap Nhat

The Pointer

 

 The Zen teacher’s dog loved his evening romp with his master. The dog would bound ahead to fetch a stick, then run back, wag his tail, and wait for the next game. On this particular evening, the teacher invited one of his brightest students to join him – a boy so intelligent that he became troubled by the contradictions in Buddhist doctrine.

“You must understand,” said the teacher, “that words are only guideposts. Never let the words or symbols get in the way of truth. Here, I’ll show you.”

With that the teacher called his happy dog.

“Fetch me the moon,” he said to his dog and pointed to the full moon.

“Where is my dog looking?” asked the teacher of the bright pupil.

“He’s looking at your finger.”

“Exactly. Don’t be like my dog. Don’t confuse the pointing finger with the thing that is being pointed at. All our Buddhist words are only guideposts. Every man fights his way through other men’s words to find his own truth.”

Cliffhanger

One day while walking through the wilderness a man stumbled upon a vicious tiger. He ran but soon came to the edge of a high cliff. Desperate to save himself, he climbed down a vine and dangled over the fatal precipice.
As he hung there, two mice appeared from a hole in the cliff and began gnawing on the vine.
Suddenly, he noticed on the vine a plump wild strawberry. He plucked it and popped it in his mouth. It was incredibly delicious!
- See more at: http://theunboundedspirit.com/10-short-zen-stories/#sthash.1RvinXoj.dpuf

Every-Minute Zen

Zen students are with their masters at least ten years before they presume to teach others. Nan-in was visited by Tenno, who, having passed his apprenticeship, had become a teacher. The day happened to be rainy, so Tenno wore wooden clogs and carried an umbrella. After greeting him Nan-in remarked: “I suppose you left your wooden clogs in the vestibule. I want to know if your umbrella is on the right or left side of the clogs.”

Tenno, confused, had no instant answer. He realized that he was unable to carry his Zen every minute. He became Nan-in’s pupil, and he studied six more years to accomplish his every-minute Zen.

from  Collection of Stone and Sand

Empty your cup

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea.

He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring. The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull.

No more will go in!” “Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”

Working Very Hard

 A martial arts student went to his teacher and said earnestly, “I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it take me to master it.” 

 The teacher’s reply was casual, “Ten years.”

 Impatiently, the student answered, “But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice everyday, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?” 

The teacher thought for a moment, “20 years.”

Buddha’s Zen

Buddha said: “I consider the positions of kings and rulers as that of dust motes. I observe treasures of gold and gems as so many bricks and pebbles. I look upon the finest silken robes as tattered rags. I see myriad worlds of the universe as small seeds of fruit, and the greatest lake in India as a drop of oil on my foot.

 I perceive the teachings of the world to be the illusion of magicians. I discern the highest conception of emancipation as a golden brocade in a dream, and view the holy path of the illuminated ones as flowers appearing in one’s eyes.

 I see meditation as a pillar of a mountain, Nirvana as a nightmare of daytime. I look upon the judgment of right and wrong as the serpentine dance of a dragon, and the rise and fall of beliefs as but traces left by the four seasons.”

from collection of Stone and Sand

Everything changes

“Suzuki Roshi, I’ve been listening to your lectures for years,” a student said during the question and answer time following a lecture, “but I just don’t understand.

Could you just please put it in a nutshell? Can you reduce Buddhism to one phrase?”
Everyone laughed. Suzuki laughed.

“Everything changes,” he said. Then he asked for another question.