Zen Lessons from a Dog

On October 12, 2009, in Blog, by Anthony

Today’s post will be short and sweet!

It is about letting go…

If a dog has a stick in its mouth and you have a treat for it, it has to drop the stick to receive the treat.

Now, most dogs will probably get a little confused at first, but they will also quickly figure out that they must drop the stick to receive the treat.

Most humans struggle their whole lives before they figure this one out!

Many never do…

If we want to receive what life has to offer us in this moment, we have to let go of all prior moments, real or imagined.

We have to let go of our identities, our expectations, our attachments to our desires.

We also have to let go of the non-existent, imagined futures that we often inadvertently distract, neglect or abuse ourselves with.

We have to let go of everything…

For some this seems like an overwhelming task.

In reality, it is the simplest thing in the world but we usually don’t do so well with simple!

So, to make it appear and feel more manageable, we practice letting go in many small moments over and over again.

If you do this, you will experience your life in a radically different way.

You will be free from the bullshit imaginings of the ego, of the conditioned mind and all the suffering and feelings of separateness that come with that powerful, sometimes necessary but all too often silly and maddening bundle.

You will be able to make clearer decisions and choose action over drowning in information.

You will be able to receive and appreciate your life.

And after a while you just may realize that you are life itself…

Drop the stick and receive your life!

Drop the stick and receive yourself!

If that is too much, then just drop the stick and see what happens.

If a dog can do it…

Until next time…

Kind Regards,

A

Dare to Share!:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • MySpace
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • TwitThis
  • Yahoo! Buzz
 

14 Responses to “Zen Lessons from a Dog”

  1. Hi Anthony,

    I found that while letting go is a great recommendation that when it is a physical concrete like with the dog, we all Know How To Do that. But with emotions, we do not know how. I found the Grief Recovery Process actually provided Concrete Actions Steps for How to Do That. Don’t you just love it when we can learn to take clear actions? (I recall from your comments on an earlier blog post about “The Secret” that you do, you do!)

    Great to see you remaining active with your blog.

    I always enjoy reading it.

    Happy Dating and Relationships,

    April Braswell
    Single Boomer Dating Expert

  2. Lynn Lane says:

    Yes…Who wants to chew on a Stick for life anyhow?

    Attachment, be careful.

    Lynn Lane —>The Warrior Of Success

  3. John Ho says:

    You remind me years ago, I read a circulating email story about how many things we can learn from a dog, including loyalty.

    In our family, we toilet train our bunny since we bought him from a pet shop when he was just about 9 weeks old.

    He would rush to eat apples as if he’s having a cocaine fix! Goes to the extent of try to find apple bites from rubiish bin if he detected the smell of apples from it.

    John Ho
    Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion

  4. Jody Yaple says:

    Dropping the stick isn’t always easy my friend. I realized not so long ago that nothing is solid. It is transiisory. It is short lived. As we move into a new experience,”picking up our treat,” BY DROPPING THAT STICK,

  5. Darryl Pace says:

    Anthony,
    Great analogy for what we need to do to experience life at its fullest.
    Hope all is going well for you and yours!

    Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace

  6. Short but sweet message. Most of us are hanging onto something that is holding us back and keeping us from whatever our goal is. Letting go of our past is one of the most difficult choices we sometimes have to make. Once we do though we can really make some progress.

    Steve Chambers
    Sales Training Speaker

  7. This is an excellent point. As I was reading it I realized I fit the description of the dog with the stick in its mouth perfectly. I hope that I can drop the stick and then dream of how I would like life to be and work toward goals instead of trying to make life what I think it should be.

    Lisa McLellan
    Babysitting Services – Babysitters and Nannies

  8. JJ Jalopy says:

    Cool realisation Mr. ZenRockstarDude.

    We need to catch up. I’ve been in uberbusy recently. Exciting times!

  9. Great article.

    Have you read the book The Philospoher and the Wolf? It think you would really relate to it.

    Sorry it’s been so long since I dropped by, consumer behaviour projects and book work have been taking up too much of my time (but all in a good cause).

    Philip
    Consumer Behaviour Expert
    [The Consumer Behaviour Research Resource]

  10. Don Shepherd says:

    Hey Anthony, Long time no read.

    you can hold the stick in your mouth and still put little treats in, but if ya want a big mouthful it has to come out.

    have to say i really like this post.
    Don Shepherd
    Central Oregon Expert

  11. Keri Eagan says:

    “Drop the stick and recieve” that is a great line! Of course sticks are often used as metaphors for beating yourself up with…hmmmm. I guess it is just as true that you cause suffering by holding on to one.

    Keri Eagan
    AlternativeHealing*Insight

  12. Just checking in for updates and new posts. BTW, I heard a doctor on TV tonight say that a vitamin D deficiency causes an increase in risk of every type of cancer! Any insight or opinions on this? Thought it might be a subject for another blog post!

    Lisa McLellan
    Babysitting Services – Babysitter in your area

  13. Happy Holidays to you, your family, and the zen dog too!

    Lisa McLellan, Child Care Expert
    Babysitting Services, Babysitting Tips, Babysitters, Nannies

Leave a Reply