Editorial

The sound of one Hand Clapping

A young man approached the Master and expressed his wish to become a student.
“Go away” said the Master, “and come back when you can tell me what is the sound of one hand clapping.” Two days later the student returned.

“Master,” he said, “The sound of one hand clapping is the sound of singing in the bar across the street.”

“No” replied the Master. “That is not the sound of one hand clapping. Go away and come back when you are able to give me the correct answer.”

This time it was several months before the young man returned. With a glint in his eye he explained to the Master,

“Master, the sound of hand clapping is the sound of water dripping from the roof of a cave high up in the mountain.”

“No” came the master’s reply. “That is not the sound of one hand clapping. Go away, and come back when you know.”

This time it was a number of years which passed before the young man returned. Nor was the young man quite so young as he had been then. This time he looked older, but there was a certain stillness about him that was hard to ignore. In a quiet humble he said, “Master, the sound of one hand clapping is the sound of silence which lies beyond silence.”

“You can be my student” replied the Master.

In order to experienced God we must first learn how to be still, for god resides within the very depths of our being, within every molecules of our bodies, and within each breath that we breathe. No amount of chanting, fasting, charity or austerity can lead us to that place, for only when we have learned how to be still might we go there.

Our minds are like ripples on the surface of a pond, and from these ripples light is reflected back to make patterns which at times are delightful, and which at times caused us to tremble. It is only when the surface of the lake becomes still that we are finally able to see down below the surface and perceive the wonders contained within the depths. so it is with God, for we are only able to experience Him our minds becomes still./TE