Arty Old Bird has this interesting post up in her blog.
Just go over and see if you would like to take her up on her offer.
I strongly believe in the dictum that one should not reinvent the wheel. So without any compunction, I shall share a Zen story as required by Val.
A martial arts student approached his teacher with a question.
“I’d like to improve my knowledge of the martial arts. In addition to learning from you, I’d like to study with another teacher in order to learn another style. What do you think of this idea?”
“The hunter who chases two rabbits,” answered the master, “catches neither one.”
How boring would that be, to commit to just one teacher? There’s a big difference between trying to understand things and chasing one rabbit.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Good Timing
While your observation is certainly valid for secular matters, I wonder if the same can apply to matters spiritual.
It does for me.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Good Timing
Wrong comparison. Obviously chasing two rabbits at the SAME time will end in no dinner tonight. Or just a lentil bake. But, by golly, we need as many teachers in our life as we can find. The more different their teachings the better. Thus we can come to our own conclusion.
U
Ursula recently posted..Safety in numbers
I beg to differ. In matters spiritual, it is best that one sticks with one teacher as long as the teacher, that is a person, is qualified to teach. He may in his compassion point out other sources of learning like books and even other teachers, like mine did by sending me to Christian and Muslim theologians.
As usual, one size doesn’t fit all. Just because that works for you doesn’t mean it’s the best approach for everyone.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Good Timing
Agreed.
Splendid!
Thank you.
I’m not chasing any rabbits.
blessings ~ maxi
Maxi recently posted..July 4th The Great Reminder
Maxi, I would like to know what you ARE chasing! 🙂
There’s a Zen parable for everything – I’m sure there’s a contradictory Zen comment about keeping enough food in the pot. While I too believe if it ain’t broke don’t fix it but if we can make it better then lets go for it.
shackman recently posted..The Onion Peeled – in Pics
That is the beauty of zen. It points out that contradictions are perfectly legitimate.
half the time I love zen.
half the time zen just ticks me off with its smug self righteous answers.
tammyj recently posted..big rig
But is it not the beauty of zen?
i do find it beautiful.
and that keeps me coming back and back.
tammyj recently posted..big rig
I’m surprised at the smugness. After all, they’re the ones who say, “If you meet the Buddha on the road kill him.” Another way of saying what he did, don’t take anyone else’s word for anything. Try things out for yourself and see if it works for you.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..Good Timing
Just popped over to your blog, Rummy, to say thank you for posting this and taking part… even if you ‘cheated’ a little in not using your own story!
Up to a point, I agree with the message in it because it reminds me of when I got over-enthusiastic on an art course (in my teens/early twenties. Long time ago) and chose to do life drawing for nearly all my courses during one term. Each was taught by a different teacher and by the time the term was over, I could barely draw anything as I was by then too confused by all the different styles. Not the artwork styles, but the styles of teaching – some of which cancelled each other out.
But really, it shouldn’t be like this. I think that if all teachers were to talk to each other first before teaching their student/s, then the problem wouldn’t exist.
Be well – I’m off my blog til September, see you later.
Val recently posted..It’s a curious thing…
I think the zen master is seriously lacking in imagination regarding rabbit hunting techniques.
Looney recently posted..Hebrew Paper #4