This is my first digital work and a new experience with photoshop. The task was to make visual montages/illustrations based on personal interpretation of selected Zen Stories on photoshop. Hence I have named my book as "Decoding Life" because the stories that I have selected are somewhere in the sequence of slow and steady journey towards enlightenment. All of my montages are made keeping in mind the idea of double exposure and extensive use of layer masking.
Need for more
A Quaker had this sign put up on a vacant piece of land next to his home: THIS LAND WILL BE GIVEN
TO ANYONE WHO IS TRULY SATISFIED.
A wealthy farmer who was riding by stopped to read the sign and said to himself, “Since our friend the
Quaker is so ready to part with this plot, I might as well claim it before someone else does. I am a rich
man and have all I need, so I certainly qualify.”With that he went up to the door and explained what he was there for. “And are you truly satisfied?” the Quaker asked. “I am indeed, for I have everything I need.”
“Friend,” said the Quaker, “if you are satisfied, what do you want the land for?”
Understanding before believing
Hogen, a Chinese Zen teacher, lived alone in a small temple in the country. One day four traveling monks appeared and asked if they might make a fire in his yard to warm themselves. While they were building the fire, Hogen heard them arguing about subjectivity and objectivity. He joined them and said: “There is a big stone. Do you consider it to be inside or outside your mind?”
One of the monks replied: “From the Buddhist viewpoint everything is an objectification of mind, so I would say that the stone is inside my mind.”
“Your head must feel very heavy,” observed Hogen, “if you are carrying around a stone like that in your mind.”
Simplicity
There was a group of elderly gentlemen in Japan who would meet to exchange news and drink tea. One of their diversions was to search for costly varieties of tea and create new blends that would delight the palate. When it was the turn of the oldest member of the group to entertain the others, he served tea with the greatest ceremony, measuring out the leaves from a golden container. Everyone had the highest praise for the tea and demanded to know by what particular combination he had arrived at this exquisite blend.
The old man smiled and said, “Gentlemen, the tea that you find so delightful is the one that is drunk by the peasants on my farm. The finest things in life are neither costly nor hard to find.”
Let free
Wise man say, “You don’t realize how much your hair weighs until you shave it all off. You don’t realize how much your fears weigh until you release them.”
Perspective
One day a young Buddhist on his journey home, came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him, he pondered for hours on just how to cross such a wide barrier. Just as he was about to give up his pursuit to continue his journey he saw a great teacher on the other side of the river. The young Buddhist yells over to the teacher, “Oh wise one, can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river?” The teacher ponders for a moment looks up and down the river and yells back, “My son, you are on the other side.”
Awaken
It is said that soon after his enlightenment the Buddha passed a man on the road who was struck by the Buddha’s extraordinary radiance and peaceful presence. The man stopped and asked, “My friend, what are you? Are you a celestial being or a god?”
“No,” said the Buddha.
“Well, then, are you some kind of magician or wizard?”
Again the Buddha answered, “No.”
“Are you a man?”
“No.”
“Well, my friend, what then are you?” The Buddha replied, “I am awake.”
