Satori Café

  Once upon a time, there were three old friends. They were all scholars leading busy lives, but they all made it a point to meet once a year to make sure they would always stay in touch with one another. But this time, the gathering felt different. They were all getting old and starting to feel their age.  Sensing this, the first scholar remarked: "We are all here together this year, enjoying each other's company..... But who can say with certainty if we will all be able to come back and be together again next year?". The second scholar laughed: "Next year? I think you may be looking too far ahead and assuming too much. Today I am alive, but who can say with certainty if tomorrow I will open my eyes to greet another day?". They turned to the third scholar, who had been quiet. He looked up to them thoughtfully, and said: "Tomorrow? My friends, as I sit here with you, I do not know if each breath I draw will be my last. Who can say with certainty, if one bre

  Solitude The idea of being alone scares many people, as the concept of it is often perceived with a filter of negativity. And although I do agree that we human beings as social creatures require interaction in order to function properly & healthily in our daily lives, spending time away from the herd by ourselves can benefit our wellbeing immensely. So let's explore the power of solitude & see what it can truly bring to our lives.  Finding Solace, Among Us "Without great solitude, no serious work is possible".    -Pablo Picasso  In this day & age, (and quite possibly throughout the ages) our current society does not seem to like loners, as the fast-paced consumerism driven society that we live in cannot stand non-participation. People who prefer to be alone, such as introverts like myself, for some reason seem to invoke suspicion. Usually, we are ridiculed with comments such as: "He must be a crazy person" or "nobody likes him", etc.  And

Once upon a time, a samurai, who was known for his nobility & honesty, went to visit a Zen monk to seek advice. However, the moment he entered the temple where the master was praying, he felt inferior and concluded that, in spite of having fought for justice & peace all his life, he hadn't even come near the state of grace achieved by the man before him.  "Why do I feel so inferior?", he asked, as soon as the monk finished his prayers. "I have faced death many times before, and have defended those who are weak. I know I have nothing to be ashamed of. But upon seeing you meditating, I felt that my life had absolutely no importance whatsoever." "Wait. Once I have attended to all those who have come to see me today, I shall answer you", the Zen monk replied.  Accepting his reply, the samurai spent the day sitting in the temple gardens, observing the people passing him by, in search of advice. He saw how the monk received them all with the same pat