"That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above." -The Emerald Tablet
Connections are everywhere. They are all around us. We need only have the proper mindset to unlock them. Consider the following parable from Zen Buddhism.
In feudal Japan, there lived a man who had so mastered the tea ceremony that his lord gave him the honorific title of samurai and adorned him appropriately. Although he knew nothing of the art of the sword, he wore the attire out of respect for his master and traveled with him wherever he went. On a trip to Tokyo, the tea master was in a busy street when an group of samurai warriors came passing by. The tea master stepped into the gutter to let them pass, catching the eye of one of the warriors. The real samurai wanted to know why someone of his rank had stepped aside and the tea master admitted to his fake promotion. The warrior, despising hypocrisy, challenged the tea master to a duel that would take place the next day. Not wanting to disgrace his lord nor his family, the tea master accepted.
The tea master sought out the help of his lord's fencing instructor to teach him how to die with honor like a real samurai. The fencing instructor promised to teach him, but first requested that he serve him what would probably be his very last tea ceremony. In doing so, the tea master took the utmost care to make every last element of the ceremony perfect and in doing so he channeled all of his attention to the task at hand. His anxiety and fear about the next day disappeared entirely. Upon seeing this level of skill, the fencing instructor told the tea master that he already possessed the secret to dying like a samurai. He said that all that he needed to do was fight the man like he was serving him tea.
The next day, the tea master arrived at the duel early. When the warrior and his entourage arrived the master bowed and calmly removed and folded his coat. He then drew his sword and held it ready above his head. The warrior was surprised by the poise that the tea master displayed. He drew his own sword and began making feints at the other man in hopes that he would make him shutter, but he did not. The tea master simply stood, ready to serve his sword. Fearing that he had made an error of judgment the day before, the warrior bowed and rescinded his challenge. The tea master had demonstrated command over his mind and spirit.
As above, so below. Every moment we have a choice to make. We can either choose to stay in the darkness and let the world happen to us. Or we can take hold of the light and help the world happen for us. The deciding factor is how much attention and intention we can bring to each and every thought and action. If this seems impossible, that's because it is. We will always fail at maintaining this level of focus, but the point isn't to never fail. The point is to realize when we falter and to bring ourselves back to the ceremony. Again and again.
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