Once. there was a very wealthy Korean business man. He had many things in his life- but his prize was his cat.
He wanted to have a painting of his cat done. He found a very famous artist. He met the artist and told him of his desire. He told the artist he would pay him a small fortune to paint the cat for him. They both agreed and the businessman left. A lot of time passed. The businessman suddenly one day realized he had not heard from the artist. He remarked to himself- I paid that artist a lot of money and it's been a year. I have not heard from him. I will go there tomorrow and find out why I have not received the painting I paid for!! He traveled the next day to the artist. He went to the door and knocked. The artist greeted him right away. The businessman was brusque and demanded to know why he did not have his painting. The artist motioned him over to a table. He pulled out a canvass. paints and brushes. With a flurry of beautiful motions, the artist quickly painted the cat. The businessman was stunned with the likeness of his cat. He stared at the painting. As he became aware of others things outside the beauty of this painting. He began to become irritated. Not only has it been a year, but he paid all this money for a painting and this artist just did this painting in 5 minutes. What a rip off. He then started to speak poorly to the artist, telling him all these things - saying he ripped him off - wanted his money back,etc. The artist did not understand and was hurt. He asked the businessman why he was upset? The businessman said its been a year- I paid you a lot of money and you do this when I come and do it all in only 5 minutes!! The artist smiled, a big smile- a knowing smile. He motioned the businessman over to the other side of the room to a door. He put his hand on the doorknob and opened it. 10,000 paintings of the cat cascaded out onto the floor to the astonishment of the businessman. The Art of Practice Above the door of Jeffrey Yuen is a saying
There are no incurable diseases, only incurable people He also says - one must do everything possible to bring Chinese medicine into the 21 st century Jeffrey Yuen has been our teacher, mentor and physician since 1998 - we have been privileged to be in his company- He is a noted Chinese Scholar - an 88th generation "Jade Purity sect" Daoist Priest. And a nice guy!!!! Years ago I was told this story of the Maharishi and his student, by a friend of mine one night sitting around a campfire at a motorcycle rally near Camp David. It sat dormant in my mind of stories for a few years- then I started to see the relevance of it in my actual everyday life.
A woman had been a long time student of a Marishi- perhaps 20 years. Her cultivation and her practice was deep. She had incredible reverence for her teacher. Her life was happy and complete. Then one day , her life became much less. Her sister- whom she loved dearly - became very seriously ill with an undetermined illness. It was very clear it was a dire situation and the student became very despondent over the condition of her sister. Suddenly, she had an idea. I will go to my teacher - he will know what to do for my sister- oh joy! all is well. She made the journey to see her teacher, and was feeling very content and optimistic- after this was her teacher and he was so powerful and knowledgeable. They exchanged hellos and sat. She spoke - and told him of her sister and all of her concerns and worries. The teacher sat quietly. After some time, she asked him- can you please help my sister? He smiled radiantly and said- you sister is fine. This startled her and made her somewhat uncomfortable. What kind of a response was this from her teacher? Clearly her sister was not alright!!!! She sat for a while longer and then spoke- teacher I do not understand - my sister is ill , might possibly die - she is not alright as you say , how can you say that?? Feeling somewhat angry yet better for saying , she sat back. The teacher was very calm, he sat there for yet some more time and then smiled. When he spoke- he said the same thing. Child - you're sister is alright. Now she did not what to do - she was on the fringe og fury- she sat simmering. How could her beloved teacher be so wrong and yet answer her this way?? She started questioning him and all she had learned from him over the many. many years. This exchange went on for quite some time, the teacher calmly replying and the student getting more and more upset. Finally- she blurted out how can you keep saying that tomer, my sister is not alright she is ill. What are you doing? Finally, the teacher looked up at her and said Child you're sister is alright, she is here on this earth for you to learn from, she is very content in her soul. She is fine - it is you that needs healing. We all experience events, situation which at first - seem puzzling. This story has often helped me to look past the illusion of the situation and into the depth of it. I have found out that frequently- in fact the soul of the person struggling is actually just where it is supposed to be. I have also found that without this story, I was working on an element of judgement- whom I am to presume(judge) that a person's soul is in distress - etc. There has also been many examples - especially my Dad- where I could not figure things out - without this story and then the light bulb went on - ok - this is a lesson for me - Dad is fine - he is showing me. So thanks to my firend for telling me the story and thanks to Dad- for showing me. I hope that this may in some way help others. The above photo is Clegg sticking his head in his demons mouth near The caves of the 50,000 Buddhas, Da Tong, Mongolia, China.
I was once told a wonderful story on how to rid yourself of your personal demons. There was a young Chinese boy that lived in the country. He was gifted with ridding others of all their demons. Word soon spread of his gift and the emperor commanded the young boy live in the Imperial Compound in Xian. He did a marvelous job with everyone's problems. He lived prospered and lived a regal life. After many years, he decided in his old age - that he wished to return to his family's compound in the country. He got permission and left for this long abandoned house. He was excited, as he had always loved his family's house. He arrived one late day and opened the large gates. As they creaked open, he was surprised to see what lay in inside. A 1000 demons of all sorts sizes colors etc. He chuckled and said- I 'll take care of this!!! He closed his eyes, said a few words and waved his hands- poof- half of the demons dissolved. Wow, he said - gonna be a little tougher then I thought, I think I 'll rest and get a fresh start tomorrow early. Dawn came and he was up and ready! He went to the compound and stood in his stance and summoned the demons - they were ready too. He did this and that and again- half disappeared. Ok Plan b- he contorted himself and summoned all his Qi and with a great breath, blew away for ever another 200. Hmmmmmm. what to do. He searched inside and summoned everything he had ever used and all his power and Pooof- all but one remained. Pulling on his long chin whiskers he sat down and meditated consulting the universe. A vision appeared to him in his meditation. He stood up and approached this last demon - it was huge and smelly and disgusting!!! He breathed deeply into his core and with that took the demons mouth in both hands - opening the mouth wide- he placed his head in the demon 's mouth and poof it disappeared. No more demons!!! We all have demons- there no way through life without them. We have to face them and they will poof - vanish. |
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