Day 2 - Authenticity

“We stumble and fall constantly even when we are most enlightened. But when we are in true spiritual darkness, we do not even know that we have fallen.”—Thomas Merton

"A man cannot be redeemed until he recognizes the flaws in his soul and tries to mend them. A nation cannot be redeemed until it recognizes the flaws in its soul and tries to mend them. Whoever permits no recognition of his flaws, be it man or nation, permits no redemption. We can be redeemed to the extent to which we recognize ourselves." —The Rabbi of Lelov said to his Hasidim

“Rabbi Zusya said, "In the coming world, they will not ask me, 'Why were you not more like Moses?' They will ask me: 'Why were you not Zusya?'"

***

The great master Mat-su, as a youth, was a fanatic about sitting in meditation for many hours at a time. One day, his patriarch's disciple Huai-jang asked him what on earth he hoped to attain by this compulsive cross-legged sitting.

"Buddhahood" said Mat-su.

Thereupon Huai-jang said down, took a brick, and started to polish it assiduously. Mat-su looked at him, perplexed, and asked what he was doing.

"Oh," said Huai-jang, "I am making a mirror out of my brick."

"You can polish it till doomsday," scoffed Mat-su, "you'll never make a mirror out of a brick!"

"Aha," smiled Huai-jang. "Maybe you are beginning to understand that you can sit until doomsday, it won't make you into a Buddha."

Suggested Activity

• Growing into your authentic self is a continuing journey. Who are you right now? Think about it and write down 5 words that best describe you.

• Check in on your physical senses. Do you have a sense of well-being? Of being tired? Hungry? Energized? etc. Sit with these feelings for a bit. Don't judge them, just accept them. Journal about the experience.