29 September, 2007

CARRYING THE PAST



       Zen monks, Tanzan and Ekido, who were walking along a country mud that had become extremely muddy after heavy rains. Near a village, they came upon a young woman who was trying to cross the road, but the mud was so deep it would have ruined the silk kimono she was wearing. Tanzan at once picked her up and carried her to the other side.



       The monks walked on in silence. Five hours later, as they were approaching the loding temple, Ekido couldn't restrain himself any longer. "Why did you carry that girl across the road?" he asked. "We monks are not supposed to do things like that."

       "I put the girl down hours ago." said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?".

       Now, imagine what life would be like for someone who lived like Ekido all the time, unable or unwilling to let go internally of situations, accumulating more and more "stuff" inside, and you get a sense of what life is like for the majority of people on our planet. What a heavy burden of past they carry around with them in their minds.


       The past lies in you as memories, but memories in themselves are not a problem. In fact, it is through memory that we learn from the past and from the past mistakes. It is only when memories, that is to say, thoughts about the past, take you over completely that they turn into a burden, turn problematic, and become part of your sense of self. Your personality, which is conditioned by the past, then becomes your prison. Your memories are invested with a sense of self, and your story becomes who you perceive yourself to be. This "little me" is an illusion that obscures your true identity as timeless and formless Presence.


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Source: Excerots from the book "A NEW EARTH" - 
Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by ECKHART TOLLE
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