The Goodness of our being is profound. It is so very important and pertinent to living in an authentic spiritual practice. When we establish ourselves in the Way that allows for mercy, Goodness emerges through everything we are involved with.

No story embodies this more than one my Master offered in a Discourse many, many years ago. You may recognize it, as I have shared it many times. I am always looking for reasons to tell this story once again. Some Zen stories must be shared over and over again to help readers gain different points of view about themselves.

*Original artwork by Gloria Shaw

The angels said to God, “Lord, grant him the gift of miracles.”

God replied, “Ask what it is that he wishes.”

They said to the saint, “Would you like the touch of your hands to heal the sick?”

“No,” answered the saint. “I would rather God do that.”

“Would you like to convert guilty souls and bring back wandering hearts to the right path?”

“No, that is the angels’ mission. It is not for me to convert.”

“Would you like to become a model of patience, attracting men by the luster of your virtues, and thus glorifying God?”

“No,” replied the saint. “If men should be attracted to me, they would become estranged from God.” “What is it that you desire, then?” asked the angels.

“What can I wish for?” asked the saint smiling. “That God gives me his grace; with that would I not have everything?”

The angels said, “You must ask for a miracle, or one will be forced upon you.”

“Very well,” said the saint. “That I may do a great deal of good without ever knowing it.”

The angels were perplexed. They took counsel and resolved upon the following plan: every time the saint’s shadow fell behind him or to either side, so that he could not see it, it would have the power to cure disease, soothe pain, and comfort sorrow.

When the saint walked along, his shadow, thrown on the ground on either side or behind him, made arid paths green, caused withered plants to bloom, gave clear water to dried-up brooks, fresh color to pale children, and joy to unhappy men and women.

The saint simply went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without being aware of it. The people, respecting his humility, followed him silently, never speaking to him about his miracles. Soon they even forgot his name, and called him “The Holy Shadow.”

Through his Goodness, this man was transformed, transcended – he was humble and absolute in his Goodness. He did not need to bring his ego into the picture to sustain his emotional human nature.

The question is: How far will we go?
How deep would each of us go to bring forth the humility that cultivates and sustains our Goodness? What seeming sacrifices would we make in order to make Goodness possible?

Understanding that this humility would necessitate authentic and endless generosity, it becomes obvious that few have the horsepower or inclination for such mercy die to their tainted values system. Most people want this mercy and goodness given to them, but are very reluctant to give it to others due to the fear of survival embedded their DNA.

Meditation is the method of the Way that disrupts the ego enough to bring forth transformational Love. It is only through the tones of Silence that we find the Way of the Heart.

Until we are done with all of our human emotional mischief…true Goodness will be illusive.