When one looks at life, several possibilities arise. Life has some inherent meaning, a purpose for which to live. Life is random but inherently good, something to enjoy. Life is inherently horrible, in which horrific events happen for no reason to innocents. Life is completely random, and is what one makes of it.
The Zen Master wonders what his readers think. If life is truly with meaning, what is it's meaning? If life is good or evil, why so? If life is random, what point is there to live?
Without reason, without morality, without purpose, no life has value. Does one think of this when one thinks of children? Loved ones? Heroes of times past?
Evil and good scar and heal humanity's face. Are good actions the only ones to be carried out? Are evil actions to go without punishment, retribution, remorse, as so many seem to feel in modern times?
So much in life is seemingly random, chance occurrences shape destinies. Is this the way of things?
The Zen Master has only this last thought for his readers to ponder....
One day, two men played four games of rock, paper, scissors. The first two matches, both men reacted on instinct to what they thought the other man would do. The same man lost both times. However, the next two matches, the loser noticed a pattern. Indiscernible, indescribable. One cannot put it into words. But, the loser sensed this, and for the next two matches gauged his responses upon this pattern.
He won the two remaining matches. The rest of the day, the man watched the world, and noticed more patterns. more evidence that something, even if it defies explanation by human mind, is there behind the veil. Perhaps it guides us, letting us choose to either be victims of our instincts or masters of ourselves to determine our own fate.
Such are the musings of the Zen Master. And as every truly wise man knows, the Zen Master claims no wisdom. He, like the great Socrates, claims only an ever questioning nature.
He encourages his readers to do the same. As well as respond to this excerpt, if they so choose.
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