October 11, 2008

the origin of zen




the first recognition of beauty was one of the most significant events in the evolution of human consciousness. feelings of joy and love are intrinsically connected to that same realization.

seeing beauty in a flower can awaken us, however briefly, to the beauty that is an essential part of our own inner most being, a true nature that is formless and yet thriving inside of us.

buddha is said to have given a "silent sermon" once during which he held up a flower and gazed at it. after a while, one of those present, a monk called mahakasyapa, began to smile. he is said to have been the only one who had understood the sermon. that smile (the realization) was handed down by 28 successive masters and much later became the origin of zen.


*sx 70 alpha, blend film.

**i am reading new earth and simply blown away by all of it's lackadaisical enlightenment.

1 comment:

  1. maybe he smiled because he no longer had to go pee.

    :)

    ReplyDelete