Alex Stolyar ☁

— Zen Proverb (often associated with the teachings of Linji Yixuan)

Education

A student eventually has to think beyond what a teacher says.

The teacher can point toward understanding, but cannot become understanding itself.

Real learning begins when the student investigates independently.

Relationships

People often idealize others.

When someone seems wise, successful, or perfect, we may create an unrealistic image of them.

Growth happens when we stop worshipping the image and see the real human being underneath.

Personal Growth

Sometimes the obstacle is not another person but the identity we create for ourselves.

Labels such as successful, intelligent, enlightened, or important can become prisons.

Growth requires letting go of even positive self-images.

The quote can be paraphrased as:

Is to know the Divine in you

To know that love exists within you

Being attentive to your needs

Even the simplest ones

Will bring clarity and intimacy with yourself

Reject your needs, and you reject yourself

Reject yourself, and you will be rejected

Love yourself and those around you

And you will be loved in return

Love is contagious

It will kiss you back

There is no correct answer that comes from

the thinking mind

The mind which dissects into small pieces

The truth comes from the belly

From a deeper, more basic place

Take care of yourself by listening to your gut feelings

In this way you will be connected to what is real

Your authentic truth

Core meaning

It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot.

All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest.

Grief is just love with no place to go.”

“The highest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of the parents.”