Spiritual Interlude


By Sister Initiate Jingle Bell, Taipei, Formosa

A few years ago, I stayed at Hsihu Center for a short period of time. One night, sleep eluded me and I kept wrestling with my mind in the tent. Many ideas emerged and every idea was soon replaced by a better one. Even when I thought that an idea was complete, it would soon be overthrown by a new one. It occurred to me that the "ego" is also a castle built with many concepts. Even when we think we have a good concept, we still have to erase it. Spiritual practitioners should be like a wise child; we come up with ideas when the situation requires, otherwise, we should not accumulate any.

When daylight broke, I felt extremely relaxed and relieved, as if I were a child, a treasure-digging child with a heart filled with thankfulness.