The Other Side

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buddha, inspiration, jim carrey, journey, love, peace, quotes, the other side, Zen, zen story

One day a young Buddhist on his journey home came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him, he pondered for hours on just how to cross such a wide barrier. Just as he was about to give up his pursuit to continue his journey he saw a great teacher on the other side of the river. The young Buddhist yells over to the teacher, “Oh wise one, can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river”?

The teacher ponders for a moment looks up and down the river and yells back, “My son, you are on the other side”.

As human beings it seems as though we are constantly trying to get somewhere. More stuff, better job, next vacation, I think we can all relate to the young Buddhist in this Zen story about the other side. It is almost as if we are shouting to the world, How do I get OVER THERE? Or more implicit, right HERE is not enough so how do I get over THERE?

Therein lies the beautiful message of the story. We are already there. There is nowhere to get to.

Life is beautiful right where we are at. This moment is perfect exactly how it is. Life unfolds the way it unfolds. Our context, our view of this world will be our experience. Einstein said our greatest question is whether we view the Universe as kind or as evil?

When I hear someone express frustration in where they are at in life, I always ask a simple question- And then what?

For example:

person: ‘if only I could get a different job.’

me: ‘and then what?’

person: ‘then I will make more money’

me: ‘and then what?’

person: ‘then I can buy that house/vacation/car’

me: ‘and then what?’

person: ‘then I will be happy?’

The actor Jim Carrey once said “I wish everyone could experience being rich and famous, so they’d see it wasn’t the answer to anything.”

The other side is not the answer. Once we stop striving to GET SOMEWEHRE, we get off the hamster wheel and we find peace in this moment because it is all we have.

Call to Action:

• Stop. Breathe. Get that there is nowhere to get to. This moment right now is perfect.
• Get off the hamster wheel, take note when you are on this never-ending wheel and take gratitude for this moment.
• Be LOVE

Be well. Be Love.

Thomas D. Craig

Author A Cup of Buddha and Is that so? A Modern Fable of Awakening

writer. seeker. Zen warrior

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Is that so? A Modern Fable of Awakening

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a cup of buddha, buddha, buddha nature, hakuin, inspiration, is that so, journey, life, love, meditation, thomas d craig, Zen, zen warrior

You can’t hide in life, Riley! Life is joy; it’s beautiful…every moment. It’s filled with challenges that remind us to find grace in even the smallest moments. Think of life as a bell. If you take a passive approach to it, you’ll give it a tiny ping. In return, you will get a tiny ping back. That’s what victims do in life. Then they wonder why their world isn’t filled with music.

Willy from Is that so? A Modern Fable of Awakening

 Is That So? A Modern Fable of Awakening: Now Available!

Many years ago I came across the Zen story called Is that so? I was fascinated with the simplicity and the core message of choosing life no matter the circumstance. Everyone on this planet is going through something. Some more than others, however, it is our context of what life brings our way that creates our being. Buddha tells us that life is suffering. His meaning is not that life is miserable but if we stay attached to life and the past or the way life is supposed to be in our minds then we suffer. It is flowing exactly in the NOW that we create freedom and happiness.

This was the story I wanted to tell in my new book, Is that so? A Modern Fable of Awakening that I am releasing April 16th 2014, choosing life no matter the circumstances. The central character is named Riley Porter. Riley means valiance and Porter means carrying, so he is someone carry valiance. It takes courage to live a life with authenticity, truth and love. Yet, this life is available to all of us. There is a Riley Porter in every being on this planet. We have the courage to walk a path of love, this is our home. Let us all walk the path of Riley.

Enjoy the book, I look forward to your feedback.

Here is the Zen story that the book is loosely based – Is that so?

The Zen master Hakuin was praised by his neighbors as one living a pure life.

A beautiful Japanese girl whose parents owned a food store lived near him. Suddenly, without any warning, her parents discovered she was with child.

This made her parents very angry. She would not confess who the man was, but after much harassment at last named Hakuin.

In great anger the parents went to the master. “Is that so?” was all he would say.

After the child was born it was brought to Hakuin. By this time he had lost his reputation, which did not trouble him, but he took very good care of the child. He obtained milk from his neighbors and everything else the little one needed.

A year later the girl-mother could stand it no longer. She told her parents the truth – that the real father of the child was a young man who worked in the fishmarket.

The mother and father of the girl at once went to Hakuin to ask his forgiveness, to apologize at length, and to get the child back again.

Hakuin was willing. In yielding the child, all he said was: “Is that so?”

Call to Action:

• Choose life no matter the circumstance. Life is beautiful in every moment.
• Create your life, your context is decisive. You choose your state of being.
• Be love

Thomas D. Craig

writer. seeker. Zen warrior

Author of A Cup of Buddha and Is That So?