Charlotte Joko Beck in Everyday Zen explains a famous Buddhist parable: “A man was being chased by a tiger. In his desperation he dove over the side of a cliff and grabbed a vine. As the tiger was pawing away above him he looked below and saw another tiger at the base of the cliff, waiting for him to fall.
To top it off two mice were gnawing away at the vine. At that moment he spotted a luscious strawberry and, holding the vine with one hand, he picked the strawberry and ate it. It was delicious! What finally happened to the man? We know, of course. Is what happened to him a tragedy?
Notice that the man being chased by a tiger didn’t lie down and say, Oh, you beautiful creature. We are one. Please eat me. The story is not about being foolish even though on one level, the man and the tiger are one. The man did his best to protect himself, as we all should.
Nevertheless, if we’re left hanging on that vine, we can either waste that last moment of life or we can appreciate it. And isn’t every moment the last moment? There is no moment other than this. The man being chased by the tiger is finally eaten. No problem.”
Why not throw one mouse to the tiger above and one mouse to the tiger below to distract them and climb away safety?
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I’m guessing he couldn’t reach them. But the point is to live in the present and remember that no one gets out alive.
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Point taken.
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Thanks Robert, now all you have to do is avoid tigers for a while. 🙂
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Ha ha. I can do that!
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No magic shows or circus, just to be safe.
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That story is such a true parable to our lives, and you summation in the comments t is perfect, Mike. We should all embrace each moment and make the most of life. Thanks for sharing for Sunday Stills today and for showing me another Zen moment.
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Thanks Terri. Yes Zen is a simple thing but the simple things are sometimes to hardest to grasp.
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Live for the moment and savour it.. 😉
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Exactly!
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Well, isn’t this one cheerful post. 😀 I’ll think of it every time I have a strawberry.
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Thanks Mexi, its cheerful if you enjoy the strawberry completely!
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“Strawberry fields forever…”
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I don’t know where they hide this crop but I’ve never seen a strawberry field although they just might go on forever.
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