All Discussions Tagged 'Zen' - Peace for the Soul2024-03-29T06:16:07Zhttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/forum/topic/listForTag?groupUrl=amazing-stories&tag=Zen&feed=yes&xn_auth=noZen Story: Heaven and Helltag:peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com,2010-07-04:5143044:Topic:294152010-07-04T09:14:40.000ZEva Librehttps://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/profile/Eva
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<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2311624564?profile=original"></img></p>
<p align="center"><span class="font-size-1" style="color: #000000;">(image: Zen painting of Hakuin).</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Hakuin, the fiery and intensely dynamic Zen master, was once visited by a samurai warrior.<br></br><br></br> “I want to know about heaven and hell,” said the samurai. “Do they really exist?” he asked Hakuin.<br></br><br></br> Hakuin looked at the soldier and asked, “Who are you?”<br></br><br></br> “I am a…</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2311624564?profile=original"/></p>
<p align="center"><span style="color: #000000;" class="font-size-1">(image: Zen painting of Hakuin).</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Hakuin, the fiery and intensely dynamic Zen master, was once visited by a samurai warrior.<br/><br/> “I want to know about heaven and hell,” said the samurai. “Do they really exist?” he asked Hakuin.<br/><br/> Hakuin looked at the soldier and asked, “Who are you?”<br/><br/> “I am a samurai,” announced the proud warrior.<br/><br/> “Ha!” exclaimed Hakuin. “What makes you think you can understand such insightful things? You are merely a callous, brutish soldier! Go away and do not waste my time with your foolish questions,” Hakuin said, waving his hand to drive away the samurai.<br/><br/> The enraged samurai couldn’t take Hakuin’s insults. He drew his sword, readied for the kill, when Hakuin calmly retorted, “This is hell.”<br/><br/> The soldier was taken aback. His face softened. Humbled by the wisdom of Hakuin, he put away his sword and bowed before the Zen Master.<br/><br/> “And this is heaven,” Hakuin stated, just as calmly.<br/><br/> <big><b>We create our own heaven and hell.</b></big></p>
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