Page 7 - Martial Science Magazine 2019 DEC

drink out of it. It holds my water admirably, some-
times even reflecting the sun in beautiful patterns. If
I should tap it, it has a lovely ring to it. But when I

put this glass on the shelf and the wind knocks it over
or my elbow brushes it off the table and it falls to the
ground and shatters, I say, ‘Of course.’ When I under-

stand that the glass is already broken, every moment
with it is precious. ”
~ version by Mark Epstein (from Thoughts Without a
Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective)

“’One day Ajahn Chah held up a beautiful Chinese
tea cup,“ To me this cup is already broken. Because I
know its fate, I can enjoy it fully here and now. And

when it’s gone, it’s gone.’ “When we understand the
truth of uncertainty and relax, we become free. “

Being aware of the impermanence of things does not

prevent us from enjoying them or their beauty, in
fact, as the teacher teaches us, it helps us to focus on
the Here and now.

In the end the fate of the cup is no different from ours

Henry Binerfa | Publisher/CEO
Martial Science Publications, LLC

DECEMBER/2019 7