Excerpted from the introduction to Zen 24/7: All
Zen/All the Time, a HarperSanFrancisco publication,
by Philip Toshio Sudo. Order
your copy of the book here.
Zen Smile
What brings a smile to our face? It
could be anything--a baby's gurgle, a dog greeting
us at the door, eye contact with a handsome stranger.
Whatever the case, a smile results from a part of
ourselves enjoying a gift of nature.
Zen lore tells of a time the Buddha
gathered his disciples for a speech, twirling a flower
in his hand. As the audience sat silently, only one
in the crowd, Kasyapa, was aware that the wordless
sermon had already begun. Kasyapa broke into a broad
smile at the master's message: All things reflect
the divine energy of nature-every flower, every rock,
every sound, every sight.
Once we realize that truth, we cannot
help but smile.
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