Nonoko did not interrupt his meditation while he addressed the man:

“All my money is in a bowl on the shelf up there. Take all you need, but leave me five yen. I have to pay my taxes next week.”

The stranger emptied the bowl of all the money it held and threw five yen back into it. He also helped himself to a precious vase he found on the shelf.

“Carry that vase with care,” said Nonoko. “It will crack easily.”

The stranger looked around the small barren room once more and was going to leave.

“You haven't said thank you,” said Nonoko.

The man said thank you and left. The next day the whole village was in turmoil. Many people claimed they had been robbed. Someone noticed the vase missing from the shelf in Nonoko's hut and asked if he, too, had been the victim of the burglar.

“Oh, no,” said Nonoko. “I gave the vase to a stranger, along with some money. He thanked me and left. He was a pleasant enough sort of fellow, but a bit careless with his sword!”

This is from The Heart of the Enlightened, a book of spiritual stories by Anthony de Mello.

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He became convinced of the truth of Gautam Buddha’s teachings, but the people who had brought the message of Buddha were scholars. None of them were mystics. And then the news came that Bodhidharma was coming, and there was a great thrill all over the land. Because Emperor Wu had become influenced by Gautam Buddha, that had made his whole empire influenced by the same teaching. And now a real mystic, a buddha, was coming. It was such a great joy!

Emperor Wu had never before come to the boundaries where India and China meet to receive anyone. With great respect he welcomed Bodhidharma, and he asked , “I have been asking all the monks and the scholars who have been coming, but nobody has been of any help — I have tried everything. But how to get rid of this self? And Buddha says, `Unless you become a no-self, your misery cannot end.'”

He was sincere. Bodhidharma looked into his eyes, and he said, “I will be staying by the side of the river near the mountain in the temple. Tomorrow morning, at four o’clock exactly, you come and I will finish this self forever. But remember, you are not to bring any arms with you, any guards with you; you have to come alone.”

Wu was a little worried — the man was strange! “How can he just destroy my self so quickly? It takes — it has been told by the scholars — lives and lives of meditation; then the self disappears. This man is weird! And he is wanting me in the darkness, early in the morning at four o’clock, alone, even without a sword, no guards, no other companion. This man seems to be strange — he could do anything.

And what does he mean that he will kill the self forever? He can kill me, but how will he kill the self?”

The whole night he could not sleep. He changed his mind again and again — to go or not to go? But there was something in the man’s eyes, and there was something in his voice, and there was some aura of authority when he said, “Just come at four o’clock sharp, and I will finish this self forever! You need not be worried about it.”

What he said looked absurd, but the way he said it, and the way he looked were so authoritative: he knows what he is saying. Finally Wu had to decide to go. He decided to risk, “At the most he can kill me — what else? And I have tried everything. I cannot attain this no-self, and without attaining this no-self there is no end to misery.”

He knocked on the temple door, and Bodhidharma said, “I knew you would come; I knew also that the whole night you would be changing your mind. But that does not matter — you have come. Now sit down in the lotus posture, close your eyes, and I am going to sit in front of you.

“The moment you find, inside, your self, catch hold of it so I can kill it. Just catch hold of it tightly and tell me that you have caught it, and I will kill it and it will be finished. It is a question of minutes.”

Wu was a little afraid. Bodhidharma looked like a madman; he is painted like a madman — he was not like that, but the paintings are symbolic. That’s the impression he must have left on people. It was not his real face, but that must be the face that people were remembering.

He was sitting with his big staff in front of Wu, and he said to him, “Don’t miss a second. Just the moment you catch hold of it — search inside every nook and corner — open your eyes and then tell me that you have caught it, and I will finish it.”

Then there was silence. One hour passed, two hours passed and the sun was rising, and Wu was a different man. In those two hours he looked inside himself, in every nook and corner. He had to look — that man was sitting there; he could have hit him on his head with his staff.

You could expect anything; whatever…. He was not a man of etiquette, manner; he was not part of Wu’s court, so he had to look intently, intensively. And as he looked, he became relaxed, because it was nowhere. And in looking for it, all thoughts disappeared. The search was so intense that his whole energy was involved in it; there was nothing left to think and desire, and this and that.

As the sun was rising Bodhidharma saw Wu’s face; he was not the same man — such silence, such depth. He had disappeared. Bodhidharma shook him and told him, “Open your eyes — it is not there. I don’t have to kill it. I am a nonviolent man, I don’t kill anything! But this self does not exist. Because you never look at it, it goes on existing. It is in your not looking for it, in your unawareness, that it exists. Now it is gone.”

Two hours had passed, and Wu was immensely glad. He had never tasted such sweetness, such freshness, such newness, such beauty. And he was not.

Bodhidharma had fulfilled his promise. Emperor Wu bowed down, touched his feet and said, “Please forgive me thinking that you are mad, thinking that you don’t know manners, thinking that you you are weird, thinking that you you can be dangerous. I have never seen a more compassionate man than you… I am totally fulfilled. Now there is no question in me.”

Emperor Wu said that when he died, on his grave, the memorial, Bodhidharma’s statement should be engraved in gold, for the people in centuries to come to know…”There was a man who looked mad, but who was capable of doing miracles. Without doing anything he helped me to be a non-self. And since then everything has changed. Everything is the same but I am not the same, and life has become just a pure song of silence.”

Osho – “Beyond Psychology”

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“What shall we do Master?” Asked the student.

The teacher looked at the student and answered in a calm voice:

“There are several options. We can fill our minds with paralyzing fear so that we cannot move, and let the tiger do with us whatever pleases it. We can faint. We can run away, but then it will run after us. We can fight with it, but physically it is stronger than us.”

“We can pray to god to save us. We can choose to influence the tiger with the power of our mind, if our concentration is strong enough. We can send it love. We can also concentrate and meditate on our inner power, and on the fact that we are one with the entire universe, including the tiger, and in this way influence its soul.”

“Which option do you choose?”

“You are the Master. You tell me what to do. We haven't much time”, responded the student.

The master turned his gaze fearlessly towards the tiger, emptied his mind from all thoughts, and entered samadhi (a kind of trance). In his consciousness he embraced everything in the universe including the tiger. In this deep meditation the consciousness of the teacher became one with consciousness of the tiger.

Meanwhile the student started to shiver with fear, as the tiger was already quite close, ready to make a leap at them. He was amazed at how his teacher could stay so calm and detached in the face of danger.

Meanwhile the teacher continued to meditate without fear. After a little while, the tiger gradually lowered its head and tail and went away.

The student asked his teacher in astonishment, “What did you do?”

“Nothing. I just cleared all thoughts from my mind and united myself in spirit with the tiger. We became united in peace on the spiritual level. The tiger sensed the inner calmness, peace, and unity and felt no threat or need to express violence, and so walked away.”

“When the mind is silent and calm, its peace is automatically transmitted to everything and everyone around, influencing them deeply”, concluded the teacher.

Remez Sasson teaches and writes on positive thinking, creative visualization, self-improvement, spiritual growth, meditation and inner peace. He is the author of several books, among which are “Peace of mind in Daily Life”, “Will Power and Self Discipline”, “Visualize and Achieve” and “Affirmations – Words of Power”.

Visit his website and find articles and books filled with inspiration, motivation and practical advice and guidance. Website: http://www.SuccessConsciousness.com

What Is the Spiritual Moral / Message of “The Tiger” by Remez Sasson?

In the depths of this story lies a profound lesson on the nature of fear and the power of inner peace. It speaks to the wisdom of choosing our response amidst chaos, unveiling the significance of embracing fearlessness in the face of adversity. The teacher's composed demeanor unveils the truth that fear holds no power over those who master their minds and choose peace over panic.

Amidst the imminent danger posed by the tiger, the teacher showcases the myriad options available when confronted with fear. The pivotal choice isn't merely about physical action but rather about the disposition of the mind. It's a reflection of the diverse approaches one can adopt when encountering challenges in life. Each option reveals an aspect of our consciousness, reminding us that our responses shape our realities.

The essence of prayer and the influence of the mind are highlighted in “The Tiger” by Remez Sasson. The teacher presents the notion of connecting with a higher power, recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings, and harnessing the strength of our thoughts. It emphasizes that our consciousness has the potential to transcend boundaries, radiating positivity and influencing the world around us. Prayer, concentration, and love become potent tools in transforming fear into tranquility.

The teacher's choice to enter a state of deep meditation, merging his consciousness with the tiger, unravels the spiritual unity underlying all existence. This transcendent experience showcases the profound truth that at our core, we are inseparable from the universe and every living being within it. By dissolving the barriers of fear and embracing unity, the teacher emanated a calming energy that resonated with the tiger's soul.

The contrasting reactions of the teacher and the student underscore the dichotomy between fear and inner serenity. While the student grappled with fear, the teacher remained poised, demonstrating the transformative power of a tranquil mind. It's a poignant reminder that while fear might be a natural response, choosing to anchor oneself in inner peace can diffuse the most imminent threats.

The departure of the tiger, after sensing the teacher's inner calmness, unveils the profound truth that peace is contagious. It's a testament to the ripple effect of tranquility emanating from a centered consciousness. The tiger, sensing no hostility or threat, mirrored the teacher's peaceful state and departed without conflict. This underscores the magnetic power of inner peace, transcending barriers and pacifying even the most volatile situations.

Ultimately, this story serves as a beacon, guiding us toward a deeper understanding of the transformative potential within us. It beckons us to cultivate a serene mind amidst chaos, to embrace unity in the face of division, and to harness the expansive power of inner peace. It's a testament to the boundless capabilities of consciousness and the enduring strength found in choosing peace over fear.

The post The Tiger – A Spiritual Story by Remez Sasson appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.

The morning after an equally wonderful wedding night, the princess brought her new husband tea and biscuits in bed. He smiled, ate, drank, told her how deeply he loved her and then slapped her flush across the cheek. They had not lied, he was strong and the princess was knocked to the floor by the force of the blow. She was dazed, in pain but mostly just in shock. What was more surprising was the shock on the husband's face. He was even more bewildered.

The husband convinced the princess that he was just as taken aback by what happened and was genuinely sorry. His kind eyes and sincere tone clearly indicated to her that he was telling the truth so she forgave him and they moved on. Some years passed and soon both forgot the ugly event, until one day just as suddenly it happened again … . Whack! Then, soon after it reared its ugly head again … . Whack! Now it was too much for both to take and so they decided to seek counsel. Being royalty, all the best medics were summoned and consulted. Various theories were postulated and several cures were tried. Calming oils, exotic herbs, exorcisms, but every so often … Whack! It would happen again.

Desperate, they finally went to see a mysterious sage who lived high up in the mountains and was reputed as the wisest medic in the land, but one who would rarely accept an audience. After a long, hard journey they finally arrived at the sage's cave. He was sitting on a rock outside in deep meditation so they waited patiently. Several hours later the sage opened his eyes and noticed the couple and much to their relief agreed to speak to them. He led them inside and then heard about the problem. At the end of the narration he asked to see the husband's hands and closely inspected his palms. Once done with the husband he surprisingly asked to see the princess's hand and carefully began to check her pulse. Finally he looked up smiling and said, “I will tell you what is happening here, but in exchange you must not refuse me what I ask.” Anxious to have this mystery finally solved they both agreed.

“Well, my dearies,” said the sage still smiling and looking at the husband said, “You sir are a great, healer. Your hands contain great power and you my dear princess have a terrible disease that keeps re-occurring every so often. By slapping you he has been curing you of this affliction time and again. If it had not been for those slaps, you would have long perished by now.” What relief they both felt. Overwhelmed by what they heard they fell to the feet of the sage and tearfully thanked him. As for the payment, well the husband wound up and laid one directly on the sage … . Whack!

Anmol Mehta is all about the Mastery of Meditation and Science of Enlightenment. Although looking from the outside, he would appear to be a happily married, father of two, enjoying his profession, meditation, yoga, sports, computer games (especially RPGs and Strategy), music, dance, nature, writing, friends and lucid dreaming – all of which is absolutely true – looking from the inside he is nothing but a servant to his endless passion for the wonders and mysteries of the Reality that transcends time and existence.

To contact Anmol or read more of his writing, please visit his website. At his website, he provides the tools, knowledge, inspiration and wisdom needed to help you live your life at your highest potential and discover your True Divine Nature and the One Absolute Reality. Feel free to share with him your comments or ask him questions, just be aware that once you get him yapping about the Art of Meditation, he may not stop.

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