#7. The Chicken or the Egg?
"What's the sound of one hand clapping?"This is called a koan in Zen Buddhism. It is a pithy, but illogical statement intended to free the mind from its rational mode of thought in meditation.
An American koan might be: Which came first -- the chicken or the egg? Without an egg, there can be no chick. Without a hen, there can be no egg. Apparently, there is no logical answer to this koan, so the mind becomes discombobulated, surrenders, and becomes receptive to the inspiration which comes from the indwelling Spirit.
Story #1:
Eve said to God in the Garden of Eden, "I'm lonely--I'm tired of eating apples by myself." God said, "OK, I'll create a man for you."
"A man! What's that?" Eve said."He's a creature with aggressive tendencies and an enormous ego. He won't listen very well. He'll get lost easily, but never stop to ask for directions. However, he is big and strong, he can open jars and hunt animals. And he's lots of fun."
"Sounds great!" said Eve."Oh! -- one more thing," God said. "He will insist that I made HIM first!"
Story #2:
God formed man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The man came alive -- a living soul! ... God said, "It's not good for man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." ... God put the man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the man to make woman and presented her to the man. (Genesis 2)
Question: Is your mind now ready to let go and trust God? Or are you determined to hang in there and figure it all out -- even if it drives you crazy?
posted by Virgil at 10:03 PM
12 Comments:
Well,we know the chicken came before the egg... we also know the fingers came before the fork. I think that the story about Adam & Eve is symbolic. If you read the bible you can see that there is so much meaning. Adam is a mystery. Paul says that "Adam is a symbol of Christ(Romans 5:14)and called Christ "the last Adam"(Corinthians15:45,21, 22.) "He says that the story of Adam & Eve is a great mystery...concerning Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5:32)
I'M ready to let go and trust God, don't need to hang in there and try to figure out Gods Wit. After all... when he created me he was just showing off! Savvy
OH, I don't know if I am ready to let go, I think there is more to the story about Adam & Eve. I really have'nt figured it all out as of yet. Really, who did God make first...Adam or Eve? And by the way, I do trust God...he brought us together and I'M thousands of miles from you, now isn't that great? I have made 2 new friends without leaving my home or computer. I am still looking forward coming to America and visiting you all. Willie
Hi Carolyn (Savvy)
Isn't the word koan: a mere place and time where truth is revealed?
Well I have a true story for you!
After creating heaven & earth. God created Adam & Eve. And the first thing God said to them was: "Don't"
"Don't what?" Adam asked.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit," said God.
"Forbidden fruit? Really? Where is it?" Adam & Eve both asked, jumping up and down excitedly.
"It's over there," said God, wondering why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants.
A few minutes later, God saw the kids having an apple break, & he was very angry.
"Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?" the first parent asked.
"Uh-huh", replied Adam.
"Then why did you do it?" God asked exasperatedly.
"I DUNNO," Adam answered.
God's punishment was that Adam & Eve should have children of their own.
Thus, the pattern was set, and it has never changed. But there is a reassurance in this story. If you have persistently & lovingly tried to give your children wisdom, & they haven't taken it, don't be so hard on yourself.
IF God had trouble handling his children, what makes you think it should be a piece of cake for YOU??
I rest my case, and no longer shall I drive myself crazy trying to figure it all out.
I TRUST YOU GOD,IM LETTING GO. I SURRENDER.
And on that note, I too rest my case...and so it is. I let go a long time ago. Trust God? sure I do, after all, he made me didn't he? What a cute story Savvy, talk about wit!
I like the story about Adam and Eve. I am hanging in there and I am still trying to figure it all out, wanna go crazy with me? Come on now, just think of all the fun we could have just being crazy together! Anonymous#1
I'm not ready to let go, even though I trust God. There are a lot of unansewered questions that need to be addressed. Is it not like he said she said sort a thing? And Reverend, what is a koan? I can't find it in the dictionary, and what does it mean? I like your think pieces, and most of all, I enjoy reading the comments. Your audience has a sense of humor! I also like your Unity web site with your prayers and streaming audio's, they are enjoyable and comforting.My children and I recite your prayers on a daily bases. Thank You, they are inspiring. Thanks for one of your people from your church told me about your web site and your blog site, she said it would be good for me and the children, you see Reverend, she is a nurse that takes care of my mother and we surely appreciate her. She sure has a deep love for her church, and she is so joyful when she talked about your blog site! So we were so curious about it, and now we are hooked! She is a good supporter of your church, I'd like to have her in mine, she is very enthusiastic and a loving person. Noel
Hello, My name is Shawn and after reading your think pieces as you call them, they are very interesting, but I don't know or I haven't figured it out on how to ansewere this one.What is a koan? Anyway after reading some of the comments I too came to realize to why I was in this web site as well. My family and I also have a nurse that takes care of my mother twice a week.Isn't that strange? We live in the Dearborn area and she also inspired us about your web site. I am kind of wondering if she is the same person. We like your listen to a prayer, and your Essay's they are put together well. We enjoy reading them, it gives us a good feeling inside. The next time we see my mothers nurse we will have to thank her. We now look at our life in a more possitive way. when we listen to your prayers they are very comforting, and your voice is so soothing and soft.
Noel and Shawn,
Thanks for the wonderful feedback. I'm humbled and grateful.
Koan is a technical term for a short, concise statement that began in the 7th century in China. The intent of the koan is to frustrate the student's attempt to intellectualize a solution until a breakthrough into enlightenment occurs. Today, it is a spiritual practice found in Zen Buddhism.
There is no way the mind can understand or explain a koan. Sometimes we try to make sense of another's illogic and it drives us crazy! That could be a koan -- right! You just have to "let it go" and be at peace about it.
Hope this helps some.
Adam and eve were in the garden of Eden, and Eve had not been there long and Adam was trying to get a grasp on the female thing, so he asked God if they could have a talk. God replied, sure your my son and I love you you can ask me anything.
So Adam asked, God you have given me the beautiful flowers and the sunset....But I look at Eve and she is so beautiful it takes my breath away.. Why God, did you make eve so beautiful? God replied, my son that is easy, I made her that way so you would love her, Adam replied well, it worked But I have another question.. I touch the cool water and rub the furry animals and they feel so good to me but I touch Eve and it is so wonderful my heart almost stops.. God, why did you make her that way?
God replied well Adam that is easy I made her that way so you would love her..well Adam replied, it worked, I do, but God I have one more question and I don't mean to question your wisdom or anything, but God she is stupid, why did you make her stupid? God replied my son that is easy I made her that way so she would love you.
Now talk about illogical!
This is a koan, Just thought I'd share this with you.
Anonymous #1
Anonymous
Thanks for sharing. Indeed, it is a koan!
I believe the Biblical stories about Adam and Eve were passed down form generation to generation in an ancient attempt to explain what the human mind at that time could not comprehend. Now science has replaced this myth based thought system with more believable theories. Could God have created woman from man’s rib, YES! But She could have just as easily have created man from woman’s rib! But it is more likely that these are stories that attempt to explain what our ancestors could not get their heads around.
God is a term used to represents pure love and the universe that is a system of balance. Every action has a reaction and God (or the Universe) will always correct itself through a system of balance. For every negative there is a positive, every seemingly “bad” thing that happens to you, something “good” will come out of it. This is how I am learning to let go and let God, for I know that no matter what happens, somehow things will eventually be corrected to create harmony and perfection. The trick that keeps me from driving myself crazy is believing this and being patient in knowing that eventually every ‘wrong” will be made ‘right” and eventually peace will come. More than likely, God can fix everything far better than I!
Annod
Thanks for sharing a well thought-out view. I enjoyed hearing from you
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