Cat in Meditation

A great Zen Buddhist master, who was in charge of the Mayu Kagi monastery, had a cat which was his true passion in life. So, during meditation classes, he kept the cat by his side in order to make the most of his company.

One morning, the master, who was already quite old, passed away. His best disciple took his place.

"What shall we do with the cat?" asked the other monks.

As a tribute to the memory of their old instructor, the new master decided to allow the cat to continue attending the Zen Buddhist classes.

Some disciples from the neighbouring monasteries, travelling through those parts, discovered that, in one of the region’s most renowned temples, a cat took part in the meditation sessions. The story began to spread.

Many years passed. The cat died, but as the students at the monastery were so used to its presence, they soon found another cat. Meanwhile, the other temples began introducing cats in their meditation sessions. They believed the cat was truly responsible for the fame and excellence of Mayu Kagi’s teaching.

A generation passed, and technical treatises began to appear about the importance of the cat in Zen meditation. A university professor developed a thesis, which was accepted by the academic community that felines have the ability to increase human concentration, and eliminate negative energy.

And so, for a whole century, the cat was considered an essential part of Zen Buddhist studies in that region. Until a master appeared who was allergic to animal hair, and decided to remove the cat from his daily exercises with the students.

There was a fierce negative reaction, but the master insisted. Since he was an excellent instructor, the students continued to make the same progress, in spite of the absence of the cat.

Little by little, the monasteries, always in search of new ideas, and already tired of having to feed so many cats, began eliminating the animals from the classes. In twenty years new revolutionary theories began to appear, with very convincing titles such as “The Importance of Meditating without a Cat”, or “Balancing the Zen Universe by Will Power Alone, Without the Help of Animals”.

Another century passed, and the cat was withdrawn completely from the meditation rituals in that region. But two hundred years were necessary for everything to return to normal – because during all this time, no one asked why the cat was there.

-Paulo Coelho

Bullshit

A hen was chatting with a bull. “I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree,” sighed the hen, “but I haven’t got the energy.”

“Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?” replied the bull. “They’re packed with nutrients.”

The hen pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.

The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.

Finally after a fourth night, the hen was proudly perched at the top of the tree. He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story: Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there.

The Fortune-teller

Many years ago in Greece, a great astrologer, the most famous of those days, fell into a well. Because in the night, he was studying the stars, walking on the road and forgot that there was a well by the side and fell into it.

An old woman who lived in a hut nearby, heard the sound of his falling and his crying, and she came out, helped him to get out of the well.

He was very happy. He said, “You have saved my life! Do you know who I am? I am the royal astrologer. My fee is very high - even kings have to wait for months to consult me,  but for you, I will predict your future for free. You come tomorrow morning to my house.”

The old woman laughed and said, “Forget all about it! You cannot see even two feet ahead; how can you see my future?”

The Rock

“Who is the best swordsman?” asked a warrior to his master.

“Go to the field near the monastery,” his master answered. “There is a rock there. I want you to insult the rock.”

“But why would I do that?” the disciple asked. “The rock will not respond.”

“Well, then attack it with your sword,” the master said.

“I won’t do that, either,” the disciple answered. “My sword would break. And if I attack the rock with my hands, I’ll injure my fingers and have no impact on it. That wasn’t what I asked. Who is the best swordsman?”

“The best is the one who is like the rock,” said his master. “Without unsheathing a sword, it demonstrates that no one can conquer it.”

The Hare And The Tortoise

A hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the Tortoise, who replied, laughing: "Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race." The Hare, believing her assertion to be simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and fix the goal. On the day appointed for the race the two started together. The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her fatigue. Slow but steady wins the race.

-Aesop's Fable