Wise Old Bird

Gray Wolf made one of her rare visits to the circle, and after a talk by Raven she remarked, “The goal of practice seems to be just more practice.”
          Raven bobbed his head. “Well?”
          Gray Wolf hesitated, and then asked, “So there’s no end to it?”
          Raven hopped down from his perch to a little hummock beside Gray Wolf, put his beak
to her ear, and murmured, “Thank goodness.”

"Black Bear came to a meeting late and said, “I’m feeling frazzled after dealing with my cubs.
           What if I don’t feel compassionate?
           Raven said, “Fake it.”
          “That doesn’t seem honest,” said Black Bear.
           “It doesn’t begin with honesty,” said Raven.

At a private meeting Grouse said, “I’m not sure that I am dedicated enough to my practice.”
          Raven said, “Never mind about being dedicated.”
          Grouse said, “The truth is, I haven’t the foggiest idea of what the practice really is.”
          “Me, either,” Raven said, “but aren’t you curious?”
          Grouse said, “Fascinated.”
          Raven said, “There you go.”

Relaxing with the others after zazen one evening, Owl asked, "What is the spirit of Zen practice?"
         Raven said, "Inquiry."
         Owl cocked his head and asked, "What do I inquire about?"
         Raven said, "Good start."

Wolverine came by unannounced one evening in early autumn.
         "Hello," said Raven, "I'm Raven."
         Wolverine said, "The Roshi is meeting this one for the first time."
         Raven said, "Is that so? What happened to the first person singular?"
         Wolverine said, "No-self has appeared."
         Raven said, "Could've fooled me."

At the end of an evening meeting, Raven announced, "The Assembly
Oak will preside tomorrow night."
         Woodpecker said, "This I'll have to see."
         Next night Raven appeared at his usual place in the circle.
         Woodpecker said, "You said the Assembly Oak would preside
         tonight."
         Raven said, "I'm here, but I forgot my notes."

♦ Robert Aitken, Zen Master Raven: The Teachings of a Wise Old Bird