Being Here And Now!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 12:58

To be here and now is meditation or the result of meditation that is most sought after by seekers.
A short story of Lao Tzu reveals the meditation of the butcher, who led people to be here and now.
Lao Tzu, sent his disciples to the royal butcher to master the art of being here and now.

Once the emperor approached Lao Tzu and requested him to show the way to remain here and now.
Lao Tzu said, “Your butcher is the right person to learn from. Go to him, for I send my own disciples to your butcher"

The emperor was shocked, “My Butcher? What does he know about it?"

Lao Tzu instructed the emperor to just watch the butcher while at work.

The emperor was in fact fascinated by the way the butcher worked with his knife at the meat.

He asked the butcher, “Your knife is so sharp and shinning. Where did you get it from?"

The butcher replied, “Well, this was given to me by my father forty years ago. For forty years I have been working with the same knife"

The king was dumbfounded, “For forty years you have been working with the same knife?"

The butcher revealed, “Its an art. When you are engaged in something with at most watchfulness, consciousness or alertness, no rust gathers inside or outside. I am fresh and new and so is my knife. It is actually meditation when I work"

The short story simply reveals the truth that being conscious is the key to be here and now.