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When Tired

A student once asked his teacher, "Master, what is enlightenment?" The master replied, "When hungry, eat. When tired, sleep."

People's reactions to this story:

"Living in the now is the most difficult task for us humans. Most live in the past or future."

"Pleasures are simple things. Make the most of what you have."

"Enlightenment may not be an unachievable task - it may be right in front of us all the time."

"You have to accept and enjoy the basics before you can understand the more complicated aspects of life."

"Do what you want to do. You are not given instructions on how to act. When you feel a need, fulfill it."

"If you satisfy your needs, you will be happy."

"Complexity is not always needed to get the job done. Life is only as difficult as we make it out to be."

"This doesn't sound like much of story, even though the message makes sense. It sounds like something a child would come up with. I would like to ask my boyfriend about this statement, because he seems to like these kinds of things."

"The master is truly at peace."

"When your body signals messages to you, and you answer your body's questions, you will reach happiness. It reminds me of last night. It was dinner time, but I didn't feel like eating. I was exhausted. So I laid down to take a nap, and woke up when my body wanted to wake up. I felt very revived and happy, and was able to go back to the work that I had to finish that night. I guess I was "enlightened" because I listen to my body."

"To know yourself is enlightenment."

"I think he means you choose what your enlightenment is."

|| Masterpiece || Useless Life || True Self ||

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~ Zen Stories to Tell Your Neighbors ~