Issue nº 86

The search for happiness

The whole in everything
     When Ketu turned twelve years old he was sent to a master, with whom he studied until he was twenty-four. Upon finishing his training, he came back home filled with pride.
     His father asked him:
     “How can we know what we can’t see? How can we know that God the Almighty is everywhere?”
     The young man began to recite the sacred scriptures, but his father interrupted him:
     “That’s all too complicated. Isn’t there an easier way for us to learn about the existence of God?”
     “Not that I know of, my father. Today I am a learned man and I need this knowledge to explain the mysteries of divine wisdom.”
     “I have wasted my time and money sending my son to the monastery,” complained the father.
     And taking Ketu by the hand, he led him to the kitchen. There he filled a basin with water and poured in a little salt. Then they went for a stroll in the city.
     When they came back home, the father told Ketu:
     “Bring the salt that I put in the basin.”
     Ketu looked for the salt but did not find it because it had already dissolved in the water.
     “So you can’t see the salt any more?” asked the father.
     “No, the salt’s invisible.”
     “Then taste a little of the water that’s on the surface of the basin. How does it taste?”
     “Salty.”
     “Try a little of the water in the middle: how does it taste?”
     “As salty as on the surface.”
     “Now taste the water at the bottom of the basin and tell me what it tastes like.”
     Ketu tried it and it had the same taste as he had felt before.
     “You have studied for many years and can’t explain simply how Invisible God is in all parts,” said the father. “Using a basin of water, and calling God “salt”, I could make any peasant understand that. Please, dear son, forget the wisdom that moves us away from men and look again for the Inspiration that draws us closer.”

Using both pockets
     A disciple remarked to Rabbi Bounam from Pssiskhe:
     “The material world seems to suffocate the spiritual world.”
     “Your pants have two pockets,” said Bounam. “Jot down this sentence and put it in the right pocket: ‘The world was created only for me.’ Now write in the left pocket: ‘I am nothing but dust and ashes’.”
     “Divide your money between the pockets. When you come upon misery and injustice, remember that the world exists only so that you can show your kindness, and use the money in the right pocket. When you are tempted to buy things that you haven’t the least need for, remember what is written in your left pocket and think twice before spending it. In that way the material world will never suffocate the spiritual world.”

Making the field fertile
     The Zen master entrusted the disciple with looking after the rice patch.
     In the first year the disciple took care that the necessary water was never lacking. The rice grew strong and it was a good harvest.
     In the second year he had the idea of adding a little fertilizer. The rice grew fast and the harvest was bigger.
     In the third year he used more fertilizer. The harvest was even bigger, but the rice came up small and had no shine to it.
     “If you go on increasing the amount of fertilizer, you will have nothing of any value next year,” said the master. “You give someone strength when you give a little help. But you weaken him if you help too much.”