-- Forest Of Thorns --

A monk asked Zen master Xiyuan, "What is a Zen monastery?"

Xiyuan said, "A forest of thorns."

----!!!!----

We have filled our mind with so much nonsense that now we feel afraid to look within. If we look within, we find all kinds of crazy thoughts going on. Hence people evade from meditation because they find it arduous to look within themselves. Talking about bliss, enlightenment, god is interesting because you get momentary peace from such talks. Meditation is arduous. Hence people find all kinds of excuses to evade from meditation!!!

Meditation is painful for such people!

हाल ये है के अपनी हालत पे
गौर करने से डर लगता है ....!!

The poet says that his situation is such

That he is afraid of even concentrating on it!

This is what people do. People don’t want to look within. They keep themselves busy in so many activities so that they can forget that they are so crazy! They don’t want to meditate because they have made their mind a mad house, yet they want others to understand them!  

मुझे देख कर जो एक नज़र, मेरे सारे दर्द समझ सके

कोई ऐसा हो जो हमसफ़र, मुझे उस शख्स की तलाश है!

 “I am looking for such a partner, who, just by looking at me

Can understand all my pains!”

People don’t want to meditate themselves, they want others to pay attention on them!!!

This is what Master Xiyuan is saying because in Zen Monastery people meditate continuously. Even when they are working, eating, bathing they keep on meditating. Since, I am an old student now, whenever I go to ten days residential meditation program, I have to constantly remain aware. No break for old students!

If you don’t get afraid and keep meditating then all the problems which you were facing initially in meditation will disappear. It is just like when you learn to swim. Initially you get submerged in water again and again. Slowly slowly when you learn swimming then it becomes fun. It becomes enjoyable!