Zen Story: The Gift of Insults and Weight Loss

Most of the focus on our society is on weight loss, body, image, and money.  Sure the focus on health is wonderful. It allows one to release stresses of all kinds, and shape up.  The original meaning of health was in reference to the mind not the body.  So to keep up with our holiday message, can you keep off the emotional weight over the holidays. I recently posted a blog  on self control which  can help you and guide you on your responsibility.

Losing emotional weight in the mind and heart. The first and last thing you need is the gift of forgiveness.  Everyone makes mistakes, has judged, or made quick reactions on someone. That is okay.  So someone doesn’t want to move forward, change, grow, at your pace, that’s okay. Maybe they will never grow, maybe they will always blame you for everything.  What matters is your health (mind).  Forgiveness breaks the contract with the person or persons and allows the universal law to even things out. Most people feel like they are getting away with things behind the scene. I feel we can agree that nobody gets away with anything.  Sooner or later, as you are pointing the finger out there at them, four fingers are pointing back at you. You are responsible for your creation. You are creating the story or stories of people. So forgive the story and them and move on.

I have experienced many lessons over the past month in forgiveness. People whom I loved dearly and still do making up stories about me.  Many of my friends asked why I didn’t react. There is a wonderful Zen story below that will illustrate this point. And perhaps help you when others feel the need to attack you, lie, manipulate, and all the other nonsense that comes with feeling good for a few moments.

May you finally forgive and drop the energetic weight loss of past baggage. After you forgive, say a little prayer for their heart. They are loved, they just might not see it. This keeps your heart clean, and keeps you from revenge.  And may this wonderful story continue to help you move closer to the light of who you are. Enjoy the story!

THE GIFT OF INSULTS

There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him.

One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move.

Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly accepted the young warrior’s challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was defeated, he left feeling shamed.

Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students gathered around the old master and questioned him. “How could you endure such an indignity? How did you drive him away?”

“If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it,” the master replied, “to whom does the gift belong?”