Lots of Nothing

Published: Sat, 05/20/23

This week we are dealing with a whole lot of nothing. Mulla Nasrudine pulls a valley girl move, and we wonder about one hand clapping. In my experience, contemplating nothing is the best way to slow and stop the mind. And I don't mean thinking about the idea of nothing, or trying to not think about anything. Rather, really look at nothing. Like, there was a pie and very piece got eaten, and then the cleaners took away the plate. Now there's nothing. Let that float into your head. It's a mind bender. 

Let's start with the Mulla...

Look Who’s Nothing

So. Mulla Nasrudine was a saintly and pious man. He went one day to the mosque, and went inside pray. He goes up to the front and he kneels down and he prays with great reverence, “Oh Holy One. I am nothing next to you. I am nothing, and yet I offer you this prayer.”

Then he hears a sound. So he jumps up and goes and hides behind the curtain.

In comes a magnificent Sheik. He has a huge hat and beautiful robes. He goes up, and he kneels down and says, “Oh Allah! I am nothing! I am nothing next to you. Thank you for accepting my prayer.” He hears a noise and he jumps up and hides behind the curtain.

In comes the lowliest beggar from off the street: dirty, skinny, uneducated. He comes up to the front and he kneels down. He starts praying, “I am nothing. The only thing I have to offer is this prayer.”

Back behind the curtain, Mulla looks at the Sheik and sneers, “Ha! Look who thinks he’s nothing!”


Competition and Power

So many Zen stories are trying to warn us that spirituality can be turned into a competition, into a power play even. That’s certainly what we have going on in in our last story. Mulla Nasrudine is saying, “Look who thinks he’s nothing!” How can this beggar think he’s nothing when nothing is the great …


Which Nothing?

it’s so easy to turn nothing into something. Our mind automatically does it. Like … which nothing are you talking about? The nothing over there? Or the nothing over there?


Praying on the Lake

Okay. So there was this lake way out in the wilds. And in the middle of the lake was a small island. People started hearing rumors that there was this amazing Mystic living on this island, a holy man. The church fathers heard about it and they were concerned. They decided they’d better go check …


Simplicity in Prayer

In the end the thing that really matters is Simplicity. That’s what this story from yesterday is talking about. The Mystic is simply living out on the lake. The priests and the bishops come and try to teach him how to pray correctly, when he was out there just simply one with nature, one with …


Can’t Talk About Nothing

You can’t really talk about nothing because the very act of talking is something. The very act of giving nothing a word, naming it nothing, or zero, turns it into something. Both in in the words that I’m saying and in what you’re hearing me say. But what if the collective wisdom of humanity that …


 

**Live Events**



We have two Dances of Universal Peace camps planned in Idaho this year. Registration is open. Check this out...
 

Salmon Wild River Dance Camp

Hyde Ranch 11 Hyde Ln, Salmon, ID, United States

A Mystic Dance Caravan Retreat. Come join us for four days of dancing and music in central Idaho. The Salmon Wild River Camp is led by fabulous Dances of Universal Peace leaders from Idaho, Montana... and even Tennessee this year! This diverse team will carry us through the many spiritual traditions of the world in […]


$50 for four days: Food and lodging not included
 
 

Lava Hot Springs, Idaho Dances of Universal Peace

A Mystic Dance Caravan Retreat. Come celebrate harmony and movement with the Dances of Universal Peace in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. This year we are coming back to this lovely town full of hot springs and a blossoming spiritual community in southern Idaho. This year our dance event is in July when camping is great […]


$50 for four days: Food and Lodging not included
 
 


216 Stevens Ave
Salmon Idaho 83467
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