"Koan meditation is a way of showing up for your own life.
You sit or work or talk and don’t add anything to it. You don’t criticize anything your mind offers. You don’t need to assess or improve the moment. And if you are criticizing the moment or your own state of mind, you don’t criticize that. In that way compassion appears. That way you show up for your own life."
"The ancient wisdom of Zen koans tells how to make room in your life for the unaccountable. You don’t have to worry your way through a predicament; it’s more like when you hear music and your body just dances. Koans are a great treasure that anyone can bring to life. They can show how to be at home in the universe including your own skin and situation."
"Suffering is basically the thought, “This isn’t it.” Reasons to be unhappy can be very convincing. There is nothing wrong with worrying, scheming and hanging on for dear life, but it’s a narrow life. There is another way to live—you can live down a level where the obstacles are gates and the richness of life is already present."
— John Tarrant
You sit or work or talk and don’t add anything to it. You don’t criticize anything your mind offers. You don’t need to assess or improve the moment. And if you are criticizing the moment or your own state of mind, you don’t criticize that. In that way compassion appears. That way you show up for your own life."
"The ancient wisdom of Zen koans tells how to make room in your life for the unaccountable. You don’t have to worry your way through a predicament; it’s more like when you hear music and your body just dances. Koans are a great treasure that anyone can bring to life. They can show how to be at home in the universe including your own skin and situation."
"Suffering is basically the thought, “This isn’t it.” Reasons to be unhappy can be very convincing. There is nothing wrong with worrying, scheming and hanging on for dear life, but it’s a narrow life. There is another way to live—you can live down a level where the obstacles are gates and the richness of life is already present."
— John Tarrant
