Sayings of a Gadfly
by Max Maxwell


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WHAT IS ZEN?

A man asked, “What is Zen?” 

The Gadfly said, “Zen is the greatest thing in life.” 

The man said, “That is very interesting.  What is Zen?” 

The Gadfly replied, “If you look at a forest and that forest fills your open heart, you are closer to Zen than if you stare at that forest with the weary eyes of a detached and distracted visitor.  But Zen is not the filling of hearts.” 

The man asked, “Then what is Zen?” 

The Gadfly said, “If you have love and respect for all life, you are closer to Zen than if you have no love or respect for life.   But Zen is not love and respect.” 

The man said, “So tell me what Zen is.” 

The Gadfly said, “If you can face the total destruction of everything in your life with the same attention you pay to eating a bowl of cereal, you are closer to Zen than if you are easily flustered or lack mindfulness in your daily living.  But Zen is not peace of mind, nor is it mindfulness.” 

Exasperated, the man said, “Tell me what Zen is or I am leaving!” 

The Gadfly answered, “If you build a small box, which is able to contain a few of your things, the box becomes a trunk.  And when you look at it, you will see your trunk.  If you make the box larger so that it can contain your whole family and all of your possessions, the box becomes a home.  And when you look at it, you will see your home.  If you make the box even larger so that it can contain your whole people and all of their possessions, then the box becomes a nation.  And when you look at it, you will see your nation.  But if you build the largest box which is able to contain all things, then the box vanishes and becomes nothing.” 

The man asked, “What is this supposed to mean?” 

The Gadfly said, “It means that there is no such thing as Zen.” 

The man left.
 

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© Copyright 2014 Kenneth J Maxwell Jr.