Short story: The blind Zen master who had plenty of sight, just the same
@innertalks (22572)
Australia
April 9, 2025 10:55pm CST
The Zen master, Clintof Zerbroski, was blind, but being blind didn't dim his inner wisdom at all.
This old master could give insight to the spiritually blind people who came to him, looking for answers to what life is really all, all about.
He would tell them that answers of themselves can not awaken anyone, unless the person has the awareness to see the relevance, and the truth, of the answer.
Here are a few of his answers to some of the many questions asked of him
"Many paths lead you upwards, but God, like the sun, is above all paths."
"God lives above all of our questions, but he can prod into us all of the answers too."
"The heart is the hidden voice in the forgotten song."
"The wind survives to blow again another day. You survive in the same way."
"The deepest peace brings the deepest wisdom alive in you."
"To reach the Zen heights, you must climb up to your true self, using the tree of life."
One day, this blind master, took a bow, and arrow, and fired off the arrow.
He had told all of his students to stay behind him, as he did this.
His arrow went straight into a large tree, almost 100 yards away. It was the only tree in the compound.
The students were amazed at his archery skills; even blind, he could hit the target.
The old master just smiled, and said.
"Arrows can be fired in a focussed way, when we have a focussed mind firing them."
"This little show though is to remind you as the author, Georg Hermes, once said:"
'"Death is like an arrow that is already in flight, and your life lasts only until it reaches you."'
"So, make the most of your life, whatever that life is, even if you are handicapped, blind, deaf, or crippled."
"Love lives in you when you start living in it in you. Let love transform any inner darkness in you to inner light."
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
The tree of life needs the strength of love to climb up it.
4 people like this
4 responses
@crossbones27 (50313)
• Mojave, California
10 Apr
I needed this one thanks brother, people do not know how capitalism works. They think they know how America works but capitalism and American are two different things. Go read the constituition. Capatalism is not in it. 
3 people like this
@innertalks (22572)
• Australia
10 Apr
"Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone."
A quote of the British economist, John Maynard Keynes.
Somehow they think both the wicked, and the good, will benefit by their greed-inspired actions.
3 people like this
@innertalks (22572)
• Australia
11 Apr
@Shiva49 A long time ago, Plato observed this, in his quote:
"Democracy passes into despotism."
The despots are always waiting around to turn things to their own advantage.
@innertalks (22572)
• Australia
11 Apr
Yes, we should try to live as best we can, with what we have got, and from who we are, each day, while also trying to improve ourselves, so that we are continually growing, and learning, in our life too.
@Shiva49 (27070)
• Singapore
10 Apr
Though blind, the Zen master was focused on what he set out to do with love and positivity.
Most of the rest count only the supposed misfortunes to grumble all through their lives and thereby spread negativity.
I have seen the blind managing to enhance their other senses to overcome their disability.
It is normal to feel despondent at times. For me, the uncertainty is a dampener and make me think of what could go wrong.
However, I feel rejuvenated seeing a few breaking into laugher and joy for the simple pleasures of life. An elderly man told me that he would lose his home as he could not meet the mortgage payments, A couple of weeks later he was beside himself with relief and joy as he could get a few months extension to make the payment.
2 people like this
@innertalks (22572)
• Australia
11 Apr
To see things in a positive light is not easy, when we are mired in a world of negativity.
We can see oases of happiness around us still though, when we see them with a happy heart, and happy eyes. We need to make the little things count, as your elderly man did.
@innertalks (22572)
• Australia
12 Apr
@Shiva49 That is good that the elderly man was helped out, as we all need such help from others at times, as we all walk through valleys of quicksand at times, and need help to be pulled out from the mires.
@Shiva49 (27070)
• Singapore
11 Apr
@innertalks We need to enjoy oasis of peace among the raging waters around us.
The elderly man found it for a month to continue to live under his own roof. And soon he will be facing the challenge again to save his home.
A few good Samaritans have chipped in to help out.
1 person likes this
@mnglsp (3646)
• Philippines
11 Apr
This is such a beautifully crafted and thoughtful piece. The wisdom of Master Clintof Zerbroski shines through, and the story about the arrow is a powerful metaphor—both humbling and inspiring. His words feel like gentle nudges toward deeper awareness, especially that reminder about life being brief and precious, no matter our limitations.
The final message really lingers: “Love lives in you when you start living in it.” A truth that’s simple, but transformative. Did you write this yourself?
2 people like this
@innertalks (22572)
• Australia
11 Apr
Yes, I like to write these short teaching tales, that point out some truths about life, and living it.
Thanks for your kind words about my efforts here.
Yes, we can hold the idea of love in our minds constantly, and yet if we do not live from the love already placed in our hearts by God for us to live from, the love in our mind stays only mindstuff, a thought, and not an action. We need to live in that love, that is inside of us to live from.
