SALT


An old Zen master was tired of his apprentice constantly complaining about everything. One day he said to his apprentice: “Go and get some salt.” When the apprentice, who was unhappy with everything came back, the master said:

“Now take a handful of salt, mix it in this glass of water and drink it.” The apprentice did as the old man said, but as soon as he had a sip, he started spitting.

“How does it taste?” asked the master. “Bitter,” said the apprentice. The master, laughing, grabbed his apprentice by the arm and took him out. He quietly led him to the lake and said: “Now put a handful of salt into the lake and drink water from the lake.” The master asked the same question while the apprentice did as he said and wiped his mouth with his arm. “How does it taste?” “It is refreshing,” said the apprentice. Expand your heart like a lake and stop complaining about everything around you.
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The love and compassion is said to be the natural state of the unconditioned mind. With so much destruction around us, it can sometimes be very difficult to feel this. We can be angry, we can get frustrated in the face of our desperation. All the mindfulness and yoga practices lay the ground to connect with our hearts and find balance in our mind to truly open our hearts, to open up to what life has to offer us. Practice helps us find space to breathe instead shutting down. Let’s sit on your mat and get in touch with your mind and breath… Let the thoughts and feelings come and go… See what happens.


Categories: dharma