Meditation Zen

There once was a story about a group of monks who meditated every day hoping to attain a certain level of mind cultivation, and obtain inner peace.

One day, a zen master visited the temple and entered the meditation room where the group of monks sat in meditation. Silence is mandatory in the meditation room, thus talking is not allowed.

Soon, a gust of wind blew into the room and put out one of the candles. Then the monk sitting before the candle spoke 'Ah..The candlelight is put out.'
In dismay at the monk who broke the silence, another monk beside him said 'Hey, why did you break the silence?'
Then another monk heard them, and said 'Talking is not allowed here.'
The three monks all looked at one another in embarassment that they all talked and broke the rule.
Alas the fourth monk smiled, whispering 'Luckily I didn't talk.' The other monks all looked at him at once.

Then the Zen master, who kept silence all along, started brushing a brick in his hand against the table. All the monks were puzzled at the Zen Master's action, so one of them asked what is he trying to do?

The Zen Master replied calmly, 'May I ask what are you doing then?'

The monk proudly answered, 'We are meditating to attain inner peace.'

So the Zen Master spoke, 'I see. As for me, I am trying to polish this brick into a mirror.'

'My my, how can you turn a brick into a mirror? That's simply impossible!' The monk commented.

'Indeed, if so, how can you attain inner peace by merely sitting in meditation?' The Zen Master asked.

The group of monks started pondering at the question, and one of them initiated to ask, 'Then how can one attain inner peace?'

'You should start from the root.'

'What does the root mean?'

'The heart.' The Zen Master continued, 'You must understand that all disturbances and troubles of the mind stem solely from one's heart. All good and evil arise from the heart. And meditation is not defined by sitting or standing poses. Failing to understand this basic law, and choosing only to practice by superficial methods will only be a waste of time, just like rubbing a brick and hoping it to become a mirror.'

Hearing the Zen Master's advice, the group of monks finally understood the deep meaning of Zen Meditation and deeply expressed shame and remorse about their earlier ignorance.

From this simple story, one should understand that the foundation of meditation lies in the very heart and wisdom of the meditator. And meditation is not bound by specific poses. As long as one sees and understands the need to behold a clear mind, to detach from relentless frustrations and indulgences, meditation would have already occured. Be it during a bus ride, standing in the afternoon breeze, and even listening to a certain music, meditation can take form.

Thus is the wondrous nature of the mind as well as Zen, without a definite boundary, only revealing to those who truly seek to unravel the root of the mind through constant mindful observation and diligent cultivation.

Love and relationships

In life, some people have wonderful love relationships, but some people can only dream about the feeling of being with the man/woman they love. Some people meet their love early in life, while many others spend their entire life searching for their Mr/Mrs Right.

But whoever you are or whichever category you fall within, there is hardly a perfect love relationship without dispute, arguments, sorrow or regret. People who have been in relationships sometimes fear to find love again, while those who have never been in a relationship yearn for one.
To be happy in love, first you have to know some basic things about your perception of love.

What do you seek in love?
Do you wish for love because you are lonely in life or is it because marriage and family is a mandatory process of life for you?
Are you just thirsting for a short term love sensation or a life long mutual companionship?


What kind of a person are you?
What is your character and habits like? What kind of people do you get along well with? Are you a receiver or a giver most of the time?


What is your philosophy of life?
It is crucial to know yourself first before you try to understand others. What do you pursue in life? What are your values and principles?


After you ask these questions to yourself, try to apply them the same way to your partner. The differences between you and your partner should not be too drastic. Ask yourself what are the differences you are willing to accommodate and accept. Hence, be honest with your answers. The more you consider these issues, the more you will feel how heavy a commitment love truly is and how much insights it involves.

Love can bind, but don't get chained in love.

If you feel that things aren't working out with your partner, or you are suffering from a serious lack of appreciation and concern, it is time to let go and move on with life. In life, We make mistakes. We choose the wrong people, it's natural because we tend to fall for looks and empty promises at the start.
We always hope and and assume things will go the right way, and thus we ignore the possibility that it will go the wrong way. Love is like a investment. We cannot guarantee what we invest will earn us money in the end, but we can at least do some research to choose the most suitable investment for ourselves. Whatever the outcome, we should accept and learn from it.

The fault may not always lie with the other party, but with our expectations of love. If one can break free from his/her former expectations of love, then he/she may see a bigger and different happiness in love and life itself.


Love is a complicated emotion, and emotions fluctuate and change with experience and time. And because love revolve around humans, no partner is perfect.

While love doesn't always lead to fruition, it can make us see ourselves better.

For anyone who reads this, getting over a failed relationship can be extremely painful. At such times, look to your best friends and family. Tell them how you feel. But remember, you are the only one who decide if you want to be stronger or weaker. If you have any questions or think that no one understands you, you may want to drop me an email at alv_legacy@yahoo.com to share your story and thoughts.