Day 29

I hope you are all well, enjoying the remainder of the weekend. Today, a quote from Seung Sahn Soen Sa. May it be an inspiration.

This quote is taken from Thousand Peaks: Korean Zen Teachers & Traditions, page 220. A temple bell was being cast for the Providence Zen Center. The occasion became a teaching moment:

Originally this metal was ugly rocks. Then the rocks were heated for a long time over a very hot fire, until finally they became liquid. Now this liquid will be poured into a mold and will take the shape of a big, beautiful bell, and when it cools someone will strike the bell, and the beautiful sound will fill the whole universe.

We are all like rocks. And when we practice hard, we heat up our hearts making a big, hot flame, which melts our condition, situation and opinion until we become like molten metal, ready to assume the shape of a great Bodhisattva who, when struck with the cry for help, makes a big, deep sound which resonates and fills the whole universe, and makes everybody happy.