 |
Get in the Habit
“The journey down the Yellow Brick Road will miraculously
make your life more glorious and joyful in every way–once
you discover the keen Zen philosophy hidden within.“
With this promise, Joey Green shows us how all the characters
in the Wizard of Oz are seeking to follow the Path on their way
to Enlightenment. Of course, as we know, they do find it within
themselves after many perilous adventures.
Why does Dorothy create bad karma for herself and Toto?
Dorothy must rise above her own karma with choices that will bring color to her bleak landscape.
“Only an understanding of your true Self–fully embracing
your higher nature–will bring you security, aligning you
with ultimate Oneness and infinite creative power of the universe.”
Meeting the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion
gives Dorothy the chance to share hope and love, which are
then returned ten-fold. She puts herself in tune with the
creative energy of the universe and is able to help them find
themselves, to free the Winged Monkeys, to liberate the
people of the Emerald City from the Wizard's benevolent
dictatorship, and to free the Wizard himself.
The Scarecrow, who uses his problem-solving abilities along the
way, discovers he's smarter than he thinks.
The Cowardly Lion asks many questions but fails to ask
the most important one, Why do the elephant, the muskrat,
the Hottentot, and the apricot all possess the courage he
lacks? He finds his courage when Dorothy needs to be
rescued. The Wizard tells him later that just because
he runs away from danger, it doesn't mean he lacks courage.
Why does the Wizard tell the Tin Man that a heart is judged
by how much you are loved by others? Here we have a koan.
Does that mean that a philanthropist who donates thousands
of dollars anonymously has a smaller heart than an egotist
who donates thousands and has buildings named after him?
Is the Wizard big-hearted just because the citizenry loves
him, although his usefulness is questionable? The author
explains this by “How much you are loved by others is equal
to how deeply you love... Love expands. Selfishness contracts.”
Another lesson points out a distinct difference between
desire and intention. The desire to return to Kansas
means attachment to the outcome, obsession with getting
back to Kansas. But if you intend to return to Kansas,
you are no longer obsessed with the idea. Every twist
and turn of your journey is no longer critical to your
ultimate goal. You are better able to allow destiny to
unfold spontaneously.
This slim volume is whimsically illustrated with colorful
scenes done in a Japanese style of painting whose
characters have Asian features. The Great Oz is a
flaming Kabuki-style face. Glinda, the Good Witch,
appears as a geisha with red hair. The architecture is
Japanese. Small fans with appropriate motifs decorate
other pages and each chapter is announced in Japanese calligraphy.
The Zen of Oz, (Renaissance Books,128 pages, $16.95, hardcover)
by Joey Green.
|
Welcome to Heartland Sangha