The Zen Mind - An Introduction

A great zen master called Tozan, once wrote, The blue mountain is the father of the White Cloud. The white cloud is the son of the blue mountain. All day long, they depend on each other without being dependent on each other. The white cloud is always the white cloud The blue mountain is always the blue mountain This was Tozan's interpretation of life, that each of us, like the white cloud exist dependently, yet independent. When conditions change, the cloud changes and it just keeps going, leaving no trace, no past. This is the zen way. Without effort, without intention if there is a sound, we hear, if our eyes are open, we see. There is nothing more than this. When we see ourself as a white cloud, When we come to this realisation of ourselves, it would be enough, and there is no confusion. To awaken to this realisation, is the practice of zen. Like a stream flowing down the mountain that finds its own path, living with nature , is finding your own way. This is the way of the Dove. and it is found in Zen If we try to block the stream, or resist it, it would simply go around without a pause, it would find its own way. This way is like a fallen leaf moving along a stream, if you allow the stream to carry you, its strength become yours, you are one with nature. Without clinging, without attachment, leaving the past behind. living in this moment. When you look at the forest, do not look at the trees as separate, or apart, but as one. This is the forest. Likewise, do not differentiate yourself, as apart from others. or from the world outside. The search for the self realisation is powered by our anxieties and our fears which feed our ego, causing frustration with our daily life. Selfishness, jealousy, anger and hate which unconsciously served to protect us, and in doing so set us in opposition to everyone and everything. To awaken to this realisation, is the practice of zen.