Saturday Thought: How We Seek

Self-discovery is an aspect of everyone's
life. We seek in different ways. I am reminded
of this little story that puts the "how" part of
our journey into perspective.

A Vinaya master called Yuan came to Tai-chu
Hui-hai and asked: 'When disciplining oneself
in the Tao, is there any special way of doing it?'

Hui-hai: 'Yes, there is.'
Yuan: 'What is that?'
Hui-hai: 'When hungry, one eats, when tired, one sleeps.'
Yuan: 'That is what other people do; is their way the same as yours?'
Hui-hai: 'Not the same.'
Yuan: 'Why not?'
Hui-hai: 'When they eat, they do not just eat, they conjure up all kinds of imagination; when they sleep, they do not just sleep, they are given up to varieties of idle thoughts. That is why their way is not my way.'