This weeks thought is different than usual as it is from Zen Buddhism and not my own written thoughts but thought provoking and very apt for the world today.

I hope you enjoy it

Love Julie xx
Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people.

One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame.

All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge.

All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors.

For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left.

Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked:

- How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all?

– If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to? – asked the Samurai.

– He who tried to deliver it – replied one of his disciples.

– The same goes for envy, anger and insults – said the master

Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Jonathan Lockwood Huie

We can often react without thinking, we snap or become angry, especially if we are under stress, hot or bothered or not feeling particularly well.

Our words and behaviour can easily become negative or even insulting and abusive. This then widens the gap damaging the relationship even further.

Something just makes us snap, and in a second a friendship or relationship can be ruined.

When someone does something undesirable, we need to try to first understand the behaviour, this of course may be very difficult to do at the moment.

Trying to remember that every person has a reason to behave the way he or she does even if you cannot understand it at the time. We don’t know what else is going on in their life or mind.

The more we react to the other person and their bad behaviour, the greater the distance will grow between you.

To mend the relationship or at least stop it deterioration we need to just step away, breathe and think.

We also need to remind our self of the other person’s good qualities, and that they too have feelings and much going on in their life.

It does not excuse bad behaviour on either side, but there are always two sides to everything, and reasons for everything.

Perhaps we need to learn something, or perhaps it is time to let the relationship go.

There is always a reason, perhaps we don’t need to know what it is, but we do not need to let the relationship fester or ruin our life.

Find something positive, let go and move on in the direction that is best for all. Fuel the positive not the negative and enjoy your life.

We can often react without thinking, we snap or become angry, especially if we are under stress, hot or bothered or not feeling particularly well.

Our words and behaviour can easily become negative or even insulting and abusive. This then widens the gap damaging the relationship even further. Something just makes us snap, and in a second a friendship or relationship can be ruined.

When someone does something undesirable, we need to try to first understand the behaviour, this of course may be very difficult to do at the moment. Trying to remember that every person has a reason to behave the way he or she does even if you cannot understand it at the time. We don’t know what else is going on in their life or mind.

The more we react to the other person and their bad behaviour, the greater the distance will grow between you.To mend the relationship or at least stop it deterioration we need to just step away, breathe and think.

We also need to remind our self of the other person’s good qualities, and that they too have feelings and much going on in their life.It does not excuse bad behaviour on either side, but there are always two sides to everything, and reasons for everything.

Perhaps we need to learn something, or perhaps it is time to let the relationship go.There is always a reason, perhaps we don’t need to know what it is, but we do not need to let the relationship fester or ruin our life.

Find something positive, let go and move on in the direction that is best for all. Fuel the positive not the negative and enjoy your life.

Think of your life as fun, and that all is well and how it should be, that there’s time for everything, think that your life is easy, and it will be so… and that the best has yet to come.

Think that the things you wish for and answers that elude you will one day catch up, you may have known them all along…
think that the lessons that have stumped you will one day bring you joy, and that the sorrows and sadness that have sometimes crippled you will soon give you wings…and that you can fly.

Know that you’re important, you have value and a place on the earth, the earth would not be whole without you… and that you cannot fail your mission here,
and know that happiness always returns….infact it is always there if you accept it in

Spiritual sincerity when used or even organized properly can accomplish any goal and it can bring you true happiness. You cannot be spiritual only part time. It encompasses your whole life – not just a part of it