15 Unorthodox answers to awaken soul

Every moment, human beings are tempted to generate emotion and judge. This diverts inner spirit from its true path.

Each action shapes your awareness and sense of the world. Consider 15 unorthodox answers to awaken your soul. Which one(s) resonate(s) most right now? Share related lessons;

1) If someone gives you an answer, reject it. Insight is felt.

2) To consciously stop thinking, is to heal in spontanaeity.

3) Serve others and you forget concerns about life and death.

4) Empty the mind of speculation, or no room exists to grow.

5) To experience true meditation transcends all sounds.

6) Offer blessing and wish merit for every being, no exception.

7) True happiness is discernable in the sound of one's voice.

8) Everything in your life is the best. You may not realize it yet.

9) If nothing stands out in mind, actto get rid of it quickly.

10) Any true giver is always unconsciously grateful to give.

11) To see through your nature teaches you birth and death.

12) On paths beyond delusion, coming and going do not exist.

13) Silence and humility ly beyond profession, ego and belief.

14) What arises unexpectedly is not of your true nature.

15) Censure self, not others. Resist judging right and wrong.

How to subjugate a ghost

A young wife fell sick and was about to die. "I love you so much," she told her husband, "I do not want to leave you. Do not go from me to any other woman. If you do, I will return as a ghost and cause you endless trouble."

Soon the wife passed away. The husband respected her last wish for the first three months, but then he met another woman and fell in love with her. They became engaged to be married.

Immediately after the engagement a ghost appeared every night to the man, blaming him for not keeping his promise. The ghost was clever too. She told him exactly what had transpired between himself and his new sweetheart. Whenever he gave his fiancee a present, the ghost would describe it in detail. She would even repeat conversations, and it so annoyed the amn that he could not sleep. Someone advised him to take his problem to a Zen master who lived close to the village. At length, in despair, the poor man went to him for help.

"Your former wife became a ghost and knows everything you do, " commented the master. "Whatever you do or say, whatever you give your beloved, she knows. She must be a very wise ghost. Really you should admire such a ghost. The next time she appears, bargain with her. Tell her that she knows so much you can hide nothing from her, and that if she will answer you one question, you promise to break your engagement and remain single."

"What is the question I must ask her?" inquired the man.

The master replied: "Take a large handful of soy beans and ask her exactly how many beans you hold in your hand. If she cannot tell you, you will know that she is only a figment of your imagination and will trouble you no longer."

The next night, when the ghost appeared the man flattered her and told her that she knew everything.

"Indeed," replied the ghost, "and I know you went to see that Zen master today."

"And since you know so much," demanded the man, "tell me how many beans I hold in this hand!"

There was no longer any ghost to answer the question.

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Zen koans such as that above offer a way to approach happiness indirectly. Strategically subvert unhappiness. Readers areinvited to go beyond what they imagine.

Additional Zen koans can be found at www.ashidaKim.com/zenkoans

In the Hands of Destiny

A great Japanese warrior named Nobunaga decided to attack the enemy although he had only one-tenth the number of men the opposition commanded. He knew that he would win, but his soldiers were in doubt.

On the way he stopped at a Shinto shrine and told his men: "After I visit the shrine I will toss a coin. If heads comes, we will win; if tails, we will lose. Destiny holds us in her hand."

Nobunaga entered the shrine and offered a silent prayer. He came forth and tossed a coin. Heads appeared. His soldiers were so eager to fight that they won their battle easily.

"No one can change the hand of destiny," his attendant told him after the battle.

"Indeed not," said Nobunaga, showing a coin which had been doubled, with heads facing either way.

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Zen koans such as that above encourage readers to learn not only to "read between the lines," but also "within the words." There is always more to such value tales than meets the eye.

A koan is a story that presents a paradox, a situation that baffles or makes no sense.  Yet, as a readers evolves, he realizes it is how he thinks that is unfounded.

Koans prompt you to alter perception of reality.
Once the mind is able to simplify, the paradox dissolves.

Additional Zen koans can be found at www.ashidaKim.com/zenkoans