What our new family member gave us -7

As previous post, our new house is now under minor repair and renewal of the house we bought and plan to move in the last week of May. It was one year agreement of rent starting Oct 2008, here in our current rent, but our landlady did not ask to pay for the balance since she wanted us to move out. It took us a lot of time and energy and caused me too busy because it overlapped to my schedule to trip to Japan. But, it looks everything went well. We needed to make inspection of the house, but inspectors did not find any major problem like piping destruction, termite problem, or roof damage.

I wanted to take a moment to look back and think what exactly happened. Because I think it was not really by accident this happened.

What if we went panic and thought continuing rent is the only way left open? We could have begged our landlady to let us stay with Snow paying extra $400. Or abandon Snow for continuous rent. In either case, our stay here would not have been comfortable like before.

Then, what if we continued to look for rent which allows to keep a pet? We could find a property which we could buy. What if we thought there is no property which we could buy? We could never found there is a property available and the market price now is low.

What if we gave up when bank said we had no way approved for house loan?

There were so many "what ifs" which might have caused us to give up. If there is any reason why this went well for my family was we continuously thought positive and tried whatever we could do and did not give up. Even very small possibility we thought negative that we could not go through this problem, we might have given up and we could not get what we could get and have got.

If I think it happened all by accident, it could be. But, if I continue to think it was an accident, I have a strong feeling that it did not this well.

Anyways, my wife and I are thankful for our dog "Snow" who brought us this. And she gave us important lesson how important to continue to think positively. Snow is now unleashed in our house, out of playpen, running around, and will love our new place.

Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-6.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-5.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-4.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-1.html

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

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What our new family member gave us -6

We were puzzled what happened. We all thought among 59 offers, we had no chance of winning. Anyways, we drove to our real estate agent's office. She told us that the seller accepted our offer!!! We doubted our ears. 58 competing offers were made to the seller. I was sure that we were not the highest offer. My agent was, either. But, we gathered all the money we could put together and offered as cash. We were neither proud nor confident about it. Since we could not get loan, it was only way to propose. But, there were 2 points. My wife and I could prove based on my real estate agent advise that we have enough checking, saving, CD's to pay the offer.

2nd point was that we did raise the offer from the list price by about 20%. We have no way knowing the truth, but according to Naomi, our real estate agent, it was best practical offer against the property taking property condition and situation into consideration. We signed all the documents and thanked God.

In addition, we thanked Snowy who gave us this opportunity. My wife and I talked about the housing market, but without Snowy involvement, we would not be seriously looking for house to buy.

Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-5.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-4.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-1.html

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

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What our new family member gave us -5

Naomi, our real estate agent showed us 10 houses, mostly foreclosure, some short sell listed, one regular sale. The regular sale one was in a perfect condition but the price is about the double the amount which we could handle and already pending. We wanted some information which only real estate agent could get for the house which we offered. Our phone rang. It was Naomi. She said we should keep looking the houses. My wife almost shouted what happened on the one we offered. Naomi said we should forget it because there are 61 offers made to the sales agent.

Neither my wife nor myself thought we would be winning the bid against 60 competitions. So, we agreed to keep looking. We spend 2 more days that way. We looked almost 20 houses in 2 days. We both were tired and felt this continues almost forever. The properties were either too expensive or too much damaged, though we had some which we liked. It was only Naomi encouraged us that we will find the one. We were talking about accepting $400 additional rent and keep the rent until we find right place.

It was Friday morning when Naomi called. We planned to meet her in front of candidate property in 2 hours. She told us do not go to the property, come to her office. What happened?

Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-4.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-1.html

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http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
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What our new family member gave us -4

My wife and I spent almost 2 days in our real estate agent office. She was quite helpful trying to find some place to live for us. Since it was almost impossible to get house loan, we started to calculate how much we can gather. We kept staying up very late and continue to count our money. We determined that we have some certain money to spend for buying house. Next morning, we went to our real estate agent office hopeful that she could find something for us. She could find something with our budget for us. They were Short Sells and Foreclosure Houses.

We were quite ready to go take a look at the candidate properties in our budget reach. Our real estate agent Naomi did not look happy. But she listed properties and took us 5 of them in that afternoon. My wife and I fully understood why Naomi did not look happy after took a look at first 2 properties. Outside appearance of properties did not look bad. But opening the door and stepping inside, they smelled mold, carpets were damaged, wall papers were wet and torn off. My wife is allergic to mold and she could not even breath inside. Properties would be priced inexpensive, but it would take more money repairing them. I had a feeling in the second property that demolish the building and rebuilding made more sense than trying to repair it.

It was third house, visited on the first day, that seemed not too much damaged. We liked layout. There were good size front and back yard for Snowy to play in. Although it was almost 8pm, we kept grabbing Naomi and asked her, almost begged her, to offer on that very day. She suggested that we offer 20% higher than listed price. We agreed.

Naomi promised to show us more candidate properties next day.

Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-3.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-1.html

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http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

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What our new family member gave us -3

By this time, my wife realized it is not easy to raise a puppy. Even my wife was wondering if we should give up Xue Er (Snowy) . Snowy constantly bite and bark against her. But when we look at her when she is quiet and gentle, we could not get to the conclusion to give her up. For about a week we consider seriously giving her away one night, next morning we thought we could not do it.

We decided to go for any possibility. We could never be sure even if we pay $400 additional rent per month (we thought unreasonably high, first off) or give away Snowy, we could not get guarantee for keep living in this house. We started to look for place to live with Snowy with no problem. I called my real estate agent who I have known years. She was the one who took care of me when I first started to live in Bay Area.

On this moment, we were still looking for a rent. Mostly house, maybe an apartment where pets are OK. When we visited real estate agent, Naomi office, we throw a wild thought at her. Is there a possibility of buying a house in Bay Area?

We discussed about bank loan first, but home loan procedure is inflexible and it looked to be next to impossible to get bank loan. We tried 3 banks which both of us had accounts, but answers were same. "No, it is not good time." In addition, being self-employed having main revenue source from Japan, banker did not give us good answer at all.

Housing market is now down. But real estate market in Bay Area stayed relatively high, Naomi had been saying. We asked her to search all over Bay Area. We stayed in her office until 10 pm that afternoon. Naomi looked tired at the same time hopeless. We begged her continuing to search since the time given from our landlady was about 5 weeks.

Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-2.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-1.html


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What our new family member gave us -2

This house was perfect for us keeping a dog. There was back yard totally closed from outside, front yard was green. Also we had a lot of plan, taking our Xue Er for trainings, walking in Burlingame Avenue as other dog lovers were doing over the weekend.

One afternoon of April, our landlady knocked our door and she told us that it is breach of rent agreement keeping a pet. When we moved in, we already had 3 birds so we had a presumption that pets are OK. She told us either we need to give up the dog or move out. As an option, she offered $400 more rent payment until October 2009 when the first year ends. I asked what would happen after November. She answered there is no guarantee if she wanted to extend the rent.

It was about 2 weeks since Xue Er (Snowy) came to our house. She started to naughty and started to bite my wife. We discussed over the situation including giving her up. There are some family member advised to us it does not make sense to give up rent for a dog. The breeder, Susan said that 2 weeks Spitz baby could be sold with no problem.

But the question was if we should give up Xue Er who came to our life so easily. She is living for God sake! We came back and forth if we should give up Xue Er or rent for about a week.

Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-our-new-family-member-gave-us-1.html


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What our new family member gave us -1

I have been posting about the new member of my family "Xue Er, (Snowy)" several times in my blog. Also I posted importance of mind set and mind control here and there. The bottom line is that you can invite good luck if you think positively, because positive thinking will bring about positive actions.

Quite honestly, up until quite recently, I have not had my own experience to tell you about, despite that I have been advocating it for relatively long time. I may be happy go lucky by my nature and I have not recognized them happened. Survival from jobless situation in foreign country could be one. Getting Green Card could be another one. But these experiences could be just lucks, right? I do not think so. I now can tell you how mind determination can affect the result based on my own experience.

In April, my wife and I went through quite interesting experience I can share with you as a result of our positive behaviors. First, I need to start explaining how we come to have Xue Er (Snowy). My wife and I had long been living in an apartment close to San Francisco Airport. We have been getting tired of coping with neighbours, managers, managing companies of our apartment. We came across real estate advertisement in Internet site for renting duplex house. We called realtor and could rent the house with reasonable rent condition and moved in. It was October last year.

It was my wife, Xiao-Zhen's long dream to keep a small white dog. We thought we could realize my wife's dream since living in a house, thought it was a rent. I recommended a specific kind, Japanese Spitz, searched a breeder, called her, and got Xue Er.

My wife was happy, the puppy looked happy, and I was happy, too until one day electric system of our house went wrong and needed to call our landlady.

Entire story cannot be told in one article. So, I need to devide the episode for several posts. I hope you can enjoy this series.

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The strong is not strong because his strength. Zen - 9

I am putting out same picture as yesterday's post. The picture is "Kan-Non". This is not directly related to Zen or Zen Discussion. But, I hoped to mention about "Kan-Non" as an important part of Buddhism.

Origin of Kan-Non was not known well. But Kan-Non was well worshipped in Vietnam, Hong-Kong, China, Japan, and many Asian Countries.

Sometimes, Kan-Non was compared to Mother Mary and she is Buddhism's symbol of unlimited mercy as Mother Mary is for Christianity. It is said that she has 1000 hands to help and give mercy to people. Some of statues in Japan shows her 1000 hands. In Edo Shogunate age when Christianity was prohibited by Shogun Government, Christian people build statue of Mother Mary which looks like Kan-Non to hide their religion. I think either Mother Mary or Kan-Non minds it.

Kan-Non was deeply related to Japanese Buddhism history as well. When Buddhism was first introduced to Japan in 552 AD, it took some time to deeply founded in Japanese culture. Several Emperors promoted it not so successfully. Japan did have its original religion, Shinto, that time.

Queen Ko-Myo (701 - 760) was from non-emperor family, devout believer of Buddhism. She promised to clean and wash 1000 people so that they could understand the mercy of Buddhism. An old woman was the last 1000th person the Queen must have cleaned. This woman was a leper and demanded that Queen should have clean her fester skin with Queens tongues and lips. Queen Ko-Myo without hesitation kissed this old lady and cleaned her skin as requested. Not a half done, this old woman showed her real herself to Queen Ko-Myo. This old woman was Kan-Non changed her appearance, tested Queen's faith. Kan-Non promised Queen Ko-Myo Buddhism will be the first religion in Japan with her effort.

Encouraged by Kan-Non, Queen Ko-Myo continued to evangelize Buddhism and Buddhism became first religion in Japan. Today in Japan, Buddhism lives with people and it is almost impossible to separate Buddhism from Japanese daily lives.

Related post:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_07.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_05.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_04.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_03.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_02.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_30.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

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The strong is not strong because his strength. Zen - 8

There was a Zen Priest famous for wisdom in 17th century. People believed that there is nothing in the world that this priest did not know. Local king was interested to try this priest wisdom and knowledge. The king had a picture with Tiger. It was a masterpiece of famous painter and the tiger looked really like alive. He told subject and people at night this tiger came out of picture and annoy him. He wanted the famous wisdom priest to help him. This was a king's lie to test the priest's wisdom.

The king called the priest. The king told the priest of the tiger story and asked the priest to help him. The priest promised the king to help. He asked the king to give him an hour to prepare. When this priest reappeared in front of the king, he was with Japanese sword, armor, and ropes, ready to fight. The priest stood in front of the tiger picture with full guard stance with his Japanese sword.

The priest shouted out loud to the king "My Lord, I am ready to fight and catch the tiger. Please call the tiger out of the picture." The only thing the local king could do was to admit that he lied and apologized to the priest.

Related post:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_05.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_04.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_03.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_02.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_30.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

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The strong is not strong because his strength. Zen - 7

Today I would like to talk about another oxymoron "lose to win". In more Zen Discussion form like, "If you want to win, you lose. If you lose, you will win." I do not know if this is a fiction or true story, but there is a sword master in 15th century. And this is a story about the master and his student boy. The boy asked this master to teach him sword skill to defeat his clan's enemy who killed the boy's father. The master moved by the boy's enthusiasm, taught him skill for about a year. One day the master called the boy and told him "You are not strong enough to defeat your father's enemy. But there is just one way you can defeat him. It is not easy. Do you like me to teach it to you and try it?"

The boy asked how he could. The teacher said "Plan to fight against him twice. The first fight you will inevitably lose. But do not to be killed in the first fight. You will win the second one." The boy was puzzled but he fought the first fight as taught. The boy lost, badly wounded, but survived. One year later, the boy asked his enemy to fight again. His enemy was surprised the boy is still alive, but agreed to fight the second time.

In his second fight the boy successfully defeated his father's enemy. The boy told his teacher that his enemy was not even half the man in his first fight, still puzzled. The teacher told the boy that his enemy was in his half way defeated because he was shocked by the boy survived and still want to fight despite of the first fight. The teacher continued "You acquired stability of mind by lost and almost being killed in the first fight. Instead, your enemy is so relieved by the fight won, and lost his mental stability shocked by your survival and intention to fight again. Your mind stability reached to the point that the skill cannot overcome. I knew you won."

I know the teacher is "Itto-sai Itoh" the boy is "Tenzen Mikogami". Both are legendary masters in Japanese sword art, Ken-do. Again I do not know this story is true or fiction. Even fiction, it still tells us importance of mind stability and the mechanism how one can gain or lose it.

Related post:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_04.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_03.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_02.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_30.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html

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http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
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The strong is not strong because his strength. Zen - 6

Let's turn to 2nd story of Zen Discussion. Buddhism teaches people ultimate status of mind to be stable as a mountain. It is not just simple stability, but stability upon danger, life or death, usually panicky situation. To achieve this stability, they talk about maintaining "Emptiness" of emotion. It is the status of "Nothing is Everything and Everything is Nothing". This status is called "Heart of Buddhism".

One day, the student asked teacher if an animal like a dog had "Heart of Buddhism". The teacher immediately answered it didn't. The student asked why it didn't. The teacher said because they did not know they had "Heart of Buddhism".

The contradiction is clear here. Teacher answered back first animals did not have "Heart of Buddhism". Then he said they did, but they did not know. It seems to me that this is more meanings than just not knowing is same as do not have it. This status of mind is not easy to just understand or believe in its existence. If one has even a slight doubt or disbelief in its status, one will never be able to achieve "Heart of Buddhism".

It seems to me this applies to the success in business or life. If one does not believe he could succeed, he will not most probably.

Related post:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_03.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_02.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_30.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html

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http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
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The strong is not strong because his strength. Zen - 5

Musashi Miyamoto is this sword man's name. He fought 60 times in his life and never lost one. There were so many famous fights including infamous one. He killed 13 years old son of Sword Master who Musashi killed in earlier duel, too. The 13 years old boy was brought into the duel by students of Dojo. Musashi needed to kill the boy to confuse 30 Dojo students. He killed more than 10 in the duel including the boy and run away. It might have been only way for him to survive.

The most famous duel is the one against his rival, Kojiro Sasaki who was famous for skills and speed of steel art. It was said that he used 6 feet sword with no problem and could cut fast flying swallow twice.

In the duel, Musashi was late about 2 hours to appear in the place. Kojiro tried not to be upset. But he could not control his emotion. When Musashi appeared, Kojiro rushed to him and pulled out his sword of 6 feet and throw away the sheath. Musashi said to Kojiro "You are already lost. Your sword has no place to be back in." In addition, Musashi to be effectively fight against long sword of Kojiro's prepared 7 feet wooden sword he himself made from boat oar. Musashi kept his sword behind and the tip of it into the ocean water so that Kojiro could not figure the length.

Musashi won the duel despite the fact that Kojiro's skill might have been well over Musashi's. This is another example "The strong is not strong because of his strength." Musashi knew his weakness and covered it by mind control and physical preparation. Despite of his skill, Kojiro lost the duel due to the fact that he could not keep "Status of Peace" in his mind.


Related post:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_02.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_30.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
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http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
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The strong is not strong because his strength. Zen - 4

I have 18 more stories to tell you on Zen discussion on ultimate status of mind, I would like to take time and show you historical stories to explain the world of Zen discussion to achieve ultimate state of mind.

First off, what is "Ultimate Status of Mind" and why we need it? Watching TV News Programs, we usually come across some miraculous happening. Survived in a major earthquake, saved a life almost drown to death, etc... In many cases, when the heroic people were asked how did you do it and what they were thinking, they say "My brain was all blank and I do not remember anything I was just thinking to save him." Something like that.

This kind of status of mind is called "Beyond Oneself" or "Nothing Oneself". This is the moment people are capable of doing beyond consideration. In martial arts, this status of mind is called "Status of Peace". If one can create this kind of mind status consciously, it will be powerful. I am planning to post actual example in my next article, but you are well aware that in sports game, especially fighting type of game, it is not necessarily the case the skillful or more trained in skill always win. I think more trained mind can defeat more skillful and stronger. That is why mental training is more important than skill training, although skill training can increase confidence and improve mind status.

Related post:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_30.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html

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http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
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The strong is not strong because his strength. Zen - 3

A Zen priest asked his teacher how many times and how long he should meditate to reach ultimate mind status. The teacher asked back the priest why he meditate. The priest answered that he does to reach ultimate status of mind. Suddenly the teacher brought a roof tile and started to grind with a cloth. The student priest asked what teacher was doing. The teacher answered. "I am grinding the roof tile to make a mirror." The student priest said. "Teacher, you cannot make mirror out of roof tile." The teacher stood up and told the student. "What you are asking is same as asking how long you should grind a roof tile to make a mirror from it."

Regular meditation in Buddhism Temple
"A roof tile can never be a mirror no matter how long or how many times you grind it." This is interesting statement. The teacher is saying that meditation does not help to reach ultimate mind status. Then why the meditation? There is no correct answer for this kind of Zen questions. My interpretation is that instead of thinking about how long or how many times of meditation, you should consider to change yourself to be mirror material from a roof tile. And the meditation is not that method. What is more important is you find mirror material to grind to be the mirror. We sometimes make mistake which is more important find the mirror material or grinding it, don't we?

The story continued. "The teacher asked the student priest "When your ox carriage stopped which you whip, the cow or carriage?"

Related post:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_30.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html

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http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

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