What is the Color of the Wind?

"What is the color of the wind?"

"Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself."

"When I eat, I eat. When I sleep, I sleep."

"What is your original face, before your mother and father were born?"

These are all Zen sayings. Zen is a branch of Buddhism that teaches about mastering the mind, and releasing a distorted sense of reality. Instead of attempting to grasp reality, but Zen philosophy teaches people to observe, accept, and acknowledge reality. Zen also teaches practitioners about realizing or acknowledging the enlightened nature already within themselves.

Now in the new book A Collection of Wisdom, author Rodney Ohebsion shares some of the best of Zen, all in a clear, efficient, and vibrant format. Here are some of the Zen Buddhism teachings in the book:

Be master of mind rather than mastered by mind. (Buddha)

Overcoming yourself is better than overcoming everyone else, because then the victory is yours, and cannot be taken from you by anyone... (Buddha)

First direct yourself to what is right; and then teach others. (Buddha)

Do not neglect your own needs for someone else’s… and recognize your needs so you will know what to do. (Buddha)

They criticize one who remains silent, they criticize one who talks a lot, and they even criticize one who talks in moderation. There is no one in the world who is not criticized. There is not, never was, and never will be a person who lives life on earth and is always praised or always criticized. (Buddha)

Sometimes you need to slow down so that the thing you are chasing will come around and catch you. (Zen saying)

What is the sound of one hand clapping? (Zen saying)

The infinite is in the finite of every moment. (Zen saying)

Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself. (Zen saying)

If you understand, things are just as they are. If you do not understand, things are just as they are. (Zen saying)

Two mirrors facing each other. There is no image in between. (Zen saying)

First monk: "The flag is moving."
Second monk: "The wind is moving."
Patriarch: "Not the wind, not the flag. Mind is moving." (Zen koan)

Disciple: "What is your Way?"
Master: "What is right now?"(Zen koan)

The Way is perfect like vast space, where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess. (Seng Tsan)

Look within! ... What I tell you is not secret. The secret is in you. (Hui Neng)

If I meet a hundred-year-old man and I have something to teach him, I will teach; if I meet an eight-year-old boy and he has something to teach me, I will learn. (Joshu)

If your mind is not clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life. (Wu Men)

This day will not come again. Each minute is worth a priceless gem. (Master Takuan Sono)

More teachings from Zen Buddhism and many other sources can all be found in A Collection of Wisdom, available for purchase now at www.amazon.com