Guidance for this Blog

Though there are no listing for followers of this, it is known there are those who do follow it and read the stories and koans posted here. Some communicate with the author, some seek guidance, some look for zen instruction, some write to argue. It should be pointed out, again, that what appears here are stories and koans, meant to entertain, to assist in enlightenment, to guide those along the way during meditation, for use in contemplation. They are not set forth to be discussed as point-counterpoint. They are not the centerpiece of debate. Each has an entertainment level, a moral level, and each has a level, for lack of description, best called its' zen level.

The problem for many is that they come to these sources brimming forth with their life, like a man who comes to tea. His host pours his cup but does not stop when the top of the cup is reached. Instead he keeps on pouring, overfilling the cup and allowing the tea to run onto the saucer and table. The guest exclaims, "You are overfilling the cup. Stop." The host simply points out, "Like the cup of tea, you are overfilled with predetermined ideas and conceptions. Free your mind and empty your cup. Stop letting it overfill."

In like manner, those among the readers who seriously are looking at zen or studying it, should not be glancing through these postings haphazardly. Seek a teacher and follow the instructions you are given, both in meditation and eventually in the study of the koan. If you are one of my students and you are not following my instructions, you really don't think you are getting away with it do you? Koans are many and varied. They are given when the person needs them and is ready and are specifically chosen.