Charles Xavier’s life reads like a bad soap opera. Many torrid romances with various women. Betrayal by friends at every turn. Aliens and demons coming to hunt him down. Miraculous rescues at the last minute. Throughout it all, Charles makes good decisions, bad decisions, and follows a seemingly haphazard path. When he formed the X-Men,…
Leonardo da Vinci was always curious. As a young man he studied metallurgy, drafting, mechanics and the creative arts. This wasn’t enough, so he expanded his inquiry to include science, nature and the world around him. da Vinci constantly recorded his studies, then later they informed other work. He is quoted as having said, “The…
Tilopa was at the top of his game. He was in charge of spiritual teaching at court, had piles of money and was loved by everyone. Despite all of this he felt empty and unfulfilled. He knew the scriptures by heart, performed the rituals and practices religiously, and was widely seen as a powerful teacher.…
QuanYin would sit and listen to the ocean flow in and out. Absorbed in the sound of the waves and the silence they left behind, she let go of all thoughts. Without thought these sounds were just vibrations so she became perfectly still. In this stillness she moved toward Enlightenment. As she transcended other types…
Padmasambhava was a busy guy. Early in life he decided to abdicate his throne so he could focus on spiritual work. To do this, he traveled all over Asia and learned many different spiritual practices. Along the way he converted demons into guardians and ordinary people into spiritual guides. Rather than wanting what was unholy…
Mahisa’s mother asked for a gift from Brahma, the King of Heaven. Her first request was that the child be made immortal, but Brahma refused. Then she asked that her child be made vulnerable to women alone and this wish was granted. Mahisa grew up sure that he could never be killed because women could…
Koan found in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
Koan found in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince to a loving family. The kingdom was prosperous and the boy grew up with every need or want answered without question. As a young man he married a beautiful woman and they soon had a healthy baby. His life looked like perfection and yet he walked away from it in search of Enlightenment. This search led Gautama…
Saint Francis of Assisi believed that anyone could attain spiritual freedom. He spent his life going far beyond his comfort zone looking for those who had been neglected. He worked with the poor and the sick, sailed to dangerous lands, and even wrote songs and sermons to animals because he saw holiness in everyone. His conviction was so extreme that he was often characterized as…
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