Browse
Top articles
How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Try free for 7 days.
How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Benefits of Mindfulness: Mindful Living Can Change Your Life
Mindfulness 101: A Beginner's Guide
00:00
00:00
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. Today I'm going to share with you a Zen parable. This is actually one of my favorites. It's about how our minds can create heaven and our minds can create hell. So the story goes that once upon a time, a really notorious and tough samurai went to visit a Zen master.
And when he arrived, the master was deep in meditation. So the samurai used to getting his way and being respected, spoke forcefully to the Zen master, "Tell me the nature of heaven and hell." Now the Zen master just sat peacefully. So the samurai yelled again, "Tell me the nature of heaven and hell." The Zen master slowly opened his eyes and looked the samurai up and down. And then he replied to him with the same forceful tone, "Why should I answer to you? A rude shabby, worm-like you? Why should I waste my time telling you anything? Get out of my sight. I have no time for your stupid questions." Well the samurai could not bear these insults.
He was filled with rage and hatred overcome by them. So he drew his sword and raised it ready to kill the master. And the master then looked straight into the amurai's eyes with compassion and said, "That is hell." The samurai stood stone still. And he immediately understood that anger had taken him over. His mind had just created his own hell in an instant.
One filled with anger, hatred, aggression, and a total loss of control. He realized he was so taken over by anger that he was ready to kill someone he just met a few minutes ago. The samurai dropped his sword and dropped to his knees and began to weep. He knelt before the master and bowed in gratitude for the understanding. The Zen master gently bowed back and with a tender smile said, "And that is heaven." The sudden awakening of the samurai to his own suffering and unconscious behavior illustrates the difference between being caught up in a thought or feeling and being aware of a thought or feeling as they arise.
And this is what we might call self-awareness. And this kind of self-awareness means we can also self-regulate. Self-regulation is like an ongoing in a conversation or interaction with ourselves. It frees us from being a prisoner of our own feelings and impulses, which often creates hell in our lives, like the samurai, and it gives us back choice. So instead of reacting and probably just creating more hell, we can choose consciously to respond.
We can choose to respond with patiencem with kindness, with humility, or with courage. We can respond with presencem with awareness and therefore create more heaven in our lives. So now just to be clear, people with this kind of high self awareness and self regulation still feel bad moods and strong impulses, just like we all do. But they find ways to regulate them and respond in more useful ways to life. So today, as you go about your day, just remembering that we can choose to step out of suffering or in this, you know, parable out of hell and stepping into more heaven by being aware, when a strong impulse or emotion is arising, letting go of reacting and then choosing a wiser response.
And therefore creating more heaven in our lives. So as always thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And now just inviting you to settle in for today's meditation.
Heaven or Hell: A Zen Parable
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Duration
Your default time is based on your progress and is changed automatically as you practice.
Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. Today I'm going to share with you a Zen parable. This is actually one of my favorites. It's about how our minds can create heaven and our minds can create hell. So the story goes that once upon a time, a really notorious and tough samurai went to visit a Zen master.
And when he arrived, the master was deep in meditation. So the samurai used to getting his way and being respected, spoke forcefully to the Zen master, "Tell me the nature of heaven and hell." Now the Zen master just sat peacefully. So the samurai yelled again, "Tell me the nature of heaven and hell." The Zen master slowly opened his eyes and looked the samurai up and down. And then he replied to him with the same forceful tone, "Why should I answer to you? A rude shabby, worm-like you? Why should I waste my time telling you anything? Get out of my sight. I have no time for your stupid questions." Well the samurai could not bear these insults.
He was filled with rage and hatred overcome by them. So he drew his sword and raised it ready to kill the master. And the master then looked straight into the amurai's eyes with compassion and said, "That is hell." The samurai stood stone still. And he immediately understood that anger had taken him over. His mind had just created his own hell in an instant.
One filled with anger, hatred, aggression, and a total loss of control. He realized he was so taken over by anger that he was ready to kill someone he just met a few minutes ago. The samurai dropped his sword and dropped to his knees and began to weep. He knelt before the master and bowed in gratitude for the understanding. The Zen master gently bowed back and with a tender smile said, "And that is heaven." The sudden awakening of the samurai to his own suffering and unconscious behavior illustrates the difference between being caught up in a thought or feeling and being aware of a thought or feeling as they arise.
And this is what we might call self-awareness. And this kind of self-awareness means we can also self-regulate. Self-regulation is like an ongoing in a conversation or interaction with ourselves. It frees us from being a prisoner of our own feelings and impulses, which often creates hell in our lives, like the samurai, and it gives us back choice. So instead of reacting and probably just creating more hell, we can choose consciously to respond.
We can choose to respond with patiencem with kindness, with humility, or with courage. We can respond with presencem with awareness and therefore create more heaven in our lives. So now just to be clear, people with this kind of high self awareness and self regulation still feel bad moods and strong impulses, just like we all do. But they find ways to regulate them and respond in more useful ways to life. So today, as you go about your day, just remembering that we can choose to step out of suffering or in this, you know, parable out of hell and stepping into more heaven by being aware, when a strong impulse or emotion is arising, letting go of reacting and then choosing a wiser response.
And therefore creating more heaven in our lives. So as always thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And now just inviting you to settle in for today's meditation.
Duration
Play in-app
Scan the following QR code with your camera app to open it on our mobile app
Get Unlimited Access
A Mindfulness Plus+ subscription gives you unlimited access to a world of premium mindfulness content.
Email Missing
We couldn’t detect your email with the SSO provider you have selected.We are here to make a positive impact on the world. We never want to sell you something that hasn’t helped you live a better life. That’s why if you’re unhappy with any purchase from us, you have 30 days to get a full refund and your money back.
If you subscribed to Mindfulness Plus+ and are unhappy with your purchase, please get in contact with us within the 30-day period and we’ll refund your purchase.
Learn more about our Mindfulness Guarantee.
Mindfulness
We believe in a world where everybody has access to the life-changing skills of mindfulness.
Private Browsing
We believe in a world where everybody has access to the life-changing skills of mindfulness.
Annual membership
$0
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Thank you for joining us
Dive into the full library and enjoy all it has to offer!
Claim your free access
Create a mindfulness account and we’ll unlock this premium session in your account forever.
7-Days free trial, cancel anytime.
Complete a few quick questions to make your own personalized mindfulness plan.
Sign up or login to your mindfulness account to proceed.
Sign up or login to your mindfulness account to proceed.
Mindfulness
One membership to gain access to a world of premium mindfulness content created to help you live happier and stress less.