Wednesday, 09/09/2015 - What a wonderful day! A sudden streak of knowledge flashed amidst mindful spiritual yoga sadhana (practice) revealing the inner meaning of the story - 'Why Ride A Bicycle?' Yes, I strongly believe that there is some thing 'holy' about the place in the park where the spiritual yoga is practised, with reverberations of OM by practitioner-cum-seeker multitude, for years. The prospective seeker, following these scribblings regularly, is hereby requested to go through the just previous blog of Tuesday, 08/09/2015 titled 'Why Ride A Bicycle? - On Being Mindful', for comprehending the present one meaningfully. This story is an intricate description of one's progressive spiritual journey from rock bottom level of a selfish earthling to the selfless 'no-mind' enlightened one!
The Zen Master in the story put a common question to his five disciples, returning from the neighbouring village market on their bicycles, "Why are you riding your bicycle?". To this, the first disciple answered, " The bicycle is carrying the sack of potatoes. I am glad I don't have to carry them on my back." People at large in this world have this type of attitude. Before embarking on any action, they first weigh the possible benefits that accrue to them in return - a sort of quid pro quo ! Their load is conveniently shifted to the other objects/persons and feel happy. This depicts the mind of a novice entering into the spiritual path for the first time.
The second disciple answered, "I love to watch the trees, fields pass by as I roll down the path." This second stage depicts a junior seeker's continued obsession with his vision preoccupied externally on the worldly things. By regular and continued practice only he has to become introvert.
The third disciple answered, "When I ride my bicycle I am content with chanting the Vajra Sutra,
'Nam Myoho Renge Kyo' ". By simply chanting sutras/mantras one does not attain buddhahood just as a brick cannot shine like a mirror, no matter how many times it undergoes rubbing and rubbing. One should start understanding how to live a life in natural way.
The fourth disciple answered, "Riding my bicycle I live in harmony with all beings". Lo, this is the penultimate stage of the seeker who has become selfless. He exudes compassion and loving nature as he experiences the omnipresence of the Supreme Power in all the living ones - human beings, animals, birds, trees..Still the final realisation is at a stone's throw for him because, he has to jettison
his supreme quality/attribute 'satvaguna' too - since, a most precious golden or platinum shackle is still a bondage after all - to achieve that gunatita (beyond the consciousness of qualities) stage ultimately.
Finally coming to the fifth disciple, his answer, " I ride my bicycle to ride the bicycle" is the quintessence of buddhist philosophy. one sole mind object, 'to ride the bicycle'. 'Work you do, but you will not be in it.' It is the end of all suffering. The state of nitya-suddha-buddha- sat-chit-brahma-ananda ! This made the Zen Master drop down to his feet and declare, " I am your disciple!" . For, the fifth disciple had already attained 'Super Consciousness' state !
The Zen Master in the story put a common question to his five disciples, returning from the neighbouring village market on their bicycles, "Why are you riding your bicycle?". To this, the first disciple answered, " The bicycle is carrying the sack of potatoes. I am glad I don't have to carry them on my back." People at large in this world have this type of attitude. Before embarking on any action, they first weigh the possible benefits that accrue to them in return - a sort of quid pro quo ! Their load is conveniently shifted to the other objects/persons and feel happy. This depicts the mind of a novice entering into the spiritual path for the first time.
The second disciple answered, "I love to watch the trees, fields pass by as I roll down the path." This second stage depicts a junior seeker's continued obsession with his vision preoccupied externally on the worldly things. By regular and continued practice only he has to become introvert.
The third disciple answered, "When I ride my bicycle I am content with chanting the Vajra Sutra,
'Nam Myoho Renge Kyo' ". By simply chanting sutras/mantras one does not attain buddhahood just as a brick cannot shine like a mirror, no matter how many times it undergoes rubbing and rubbing. One should start understanding how to live a life in natural way.
The fourth disciple answered, "Riding my bicycle I live in harmony with all beings". Lo, this is the penultimate stage of the seeker who has become selfless. He exudes compassion and loving nature as he experiences the omnipresence of the Supreme Power in all the living ones - human beings, animals, birds, trees..Still the final realisation is at a stone's throw for him because, he has to jettison
his supreme quality/attribute 'satvaguna' too - since, a most precious golden or platinum shackle is still a bondage after all - to achieve that gunatita (beyond the consciousness of qualities) stage ultimately.
Finally coming to the fifth disciple, his answer, " I ride my bicycle to ride the bicycle" is the quintessence of buddhist philosophy. one sole mind object, 'to ride the bicycle'. 'Work you do, but you will not be in it.' It is the end of all suffering. The state of nitya-suddha-buddha- sat-chit-brahma-ananda ! This made the Zen Master drop down to his feet and declare, " I am your disciple!" . For, the fifth disciple had already attained 'Super Consciousness' state !
Padmapani Bodhisatva (7.11.'09)
Om Shanti!
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