harleyfrog

‘A Zen teacher saw five of his students returning from the market, riding their bicycles. When they arrived at the monastery and had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, “Why are you riding your bicycles?”

The first student replied, “The bicycle is carrying this sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!” The teacher praised the first student. “You are a smart boy! When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over like I do.”

The second student replied, “I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path!” The teacher commended the second student, “Your eyes are open, and you see the world.”

The third student replied, “When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant nam myoho renge kyo.” The teacher gave his praise to the third student, “Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel.”

The fourth student replied, “Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all sentient beings.” The teacher was pleased and said to the fourth student, “You are riding on the golden path of non-harming.”

The fifth student replied, “I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle.” The teacher sat at the feet of the fifth student and said, “I am your student.”’

--Zen proverb

slynkie

Nice. Not quite zen (or is it?), but my current favorite is:

"'Shut up body, and do what I tell you!" - Jens Voigt

invasionusa

"Don't buy upgrades, ride up grades" - E.M.

Doohickie

I think the same thing was said in several different ways in this thread.

Pocko

"My mountain bike is slow, but the earth is patient!"

kylejack

A zen story like that is called a koan. They're meant to be somewhat difficult to understand at first but have a deep moral or instructive lesson. Here's my favorite koan:

A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine sustained him.


Two mice, one white and one black, little by little started to gnaw away the vine. The man saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted!

RonH

"Cycling keeps me young."

I'm 64 and it works for me.

Robert Foster

Ahh yes, the High Road to China.

Pocko

^ Hahaha... very good Daniel San!

What about... "One often finds his destiny in the mountain bike trail he takes to avoid it!"

martianone

I believe it was HG Wells who said "Bicycle tracks... will abound in Utopia?

c0urt

we were unlocking today, and someone says "god speed on your ten speed" i kinda liked that.

Doohickie

I'm a little dim-witted, but is the "Western translation" of that story the saying that goes, "Stop and smell the roses."?

Pocko

^ I think it means, when you're about to die... your last meal will always taste good!!

... or when you're about to crash land from a 10-foot-plus mis-judged jump and things go slow-motion while you're waiting to break your bones from the rocks below... the faces of your family members flashing in front of your very eyes, seem... well... very colorful indeed!

Robert Foster

If you have ever read Mark Twain his discription of Taming the Bicycle is one of the best. The quote sounds good after reading the story.

https://www.online-literature.com/twain/1323/

The quote:
Get a bicycle.You will not regret it if you live.
- Mark Twain

CB HI

And even if you do die, you will not be alive to regret it.

Pocko

^ Doesn't get anymore Zen than that!

Tony V

Life's better on a bike.

LesMcLuffAlot

"Carbon Fibre Schmibre. Drink beer. Ride a metal bike. Don't be a ponce."

Panthers007

Surely you all must know this Zen parable:

The Zen Master approached the new student and asked: "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" The student looked dumbfounded and could not answer. So the Zen Master slapped him.

kylejack

Its sort of similar to the Serenity Prayer.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

In other words, the message here is to not dwell on things you have absolutely no control over. He was going to die, that much was clear, and yet here was an opportunity to have some delicious happiness before the tigers ate him.

Pocko

"Mo money... mo money... mo money!!"

Gotte

To prepare for a race, there is nothing better than a good pheasant, some champagne and a woman - Jacques Anquetile, 1957.

Red Rider

Always look on the bike side of life.

With apologies to Monty Python.

bent eagle

It means "live in the now." The tiger that almost ate him before was in the past and doesn't matter now. The one that is waiting to eat him in the future also doesn't matter now. In the now, he is enjoying a strawberry.

Robert Foster

If that is the case I am not sure a Zen master ever rode a bike. Live on memories and dreams. We remember or last great ride and look forward to our next great ride.