When You Live In… 

You might now know that gray foxes can climb trees.

“When you live in complete acceptance of what is, that is the end of all drama in your life. Nobody can even have an argument with you, no matter how hard he or she tries. You cannot have an argument with a fully conscious person.” -Eckhart Tolle

At the root of every problem is desire: You want something to not be how it is.

During a three-day retreat, I was in a personal interview with a Rinzai Zen Master.

He rapped his stick on a gong and asked, “what hears sound?” I extended my arm and laid my hand on his thigh. To my surprise, he leaned back slightly and said, “ah, good.” But I could tell he wasn’t fully satisfied. 

He repeated the question. I quickly stood up and spread my arms out, you know, like a tree. (I don’t think that one went so well.) 

He motioned for me to sit next to him. He lifted my hand and gently laid it on his heart. As he rocked slowly back and forth, he repeated, “no desire… no desire… no desire…” 

He dismissed me from the interview. 

I bowed three times and left—ecstatic!—feeling I’d learned the greatest lesson ever.

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Be aware of your own being.