Meditation is the life of the soul; action is the soul of meditation; honor is the reward of action: so meditate that thou mayst do; so do that thou mayst purchase honor; for which purchase give God the glory.
In Zen practitioners use kung-an (koans) as subjects for meditation until their mind comes to awakening. There is a big difference between a kung-an and a math problem the solution of the math problem is included in the problem itself while the response to the kung-an lies in the life of the practitioner. The kung-an is a useful instrument in the work of awakening just as a pick is a useful instrument in working on the ground. What is accomplished from working on the ground depends on the person doing the work and not just on the pick. The kung-an is not an enigma to resolve; this is why we cannot say that it is a theme or subject of meditation.
It is not the number of books you read nor the variety of sermons you hear nor the amount of religious conversation in which you mix but it is the frequency and earnestness with which you meditate on these things till the truth in them becomes your own and part of your being that ensures your growth.
Meditation is the life of the soul; action is the soul of meditation; honor is the reward of action: so meditate that thou mayst do; so do that thou mayst purchase honor; for which purchase give God the glory.
Meditation is the tongue of the soul And the language of our spirit.
In Zen practitioners use kung-an (koans) as subjects for meditation until their mind comes to awakening. There is a big difference between a kung-an and a math problem the solution of the math problem is included in the problem itself while the response to the kung-an lies in the life of the practitioner. The kung-an is a useful instrument in the work of awakening just as a pick is a useful instrument in working on the ground. What is accomplished from working on the ground depends on the person doing the work and not just on the pick. The kung-an is not an enigma to resolve; this is why we cannot say that it is a theme or subject of meditation.
It is not the number of books you read nor the variety of sermons you hear nor the amount of religious conversation in which you mix but it is the frequency and earnestness with which you meditate on these things till the truth in them becomes your own and part of your being that ensures your growth.