This is not about chicken-egg problem. Whether chicken arrived first or egg … That has been resolved beyond any doubt.  Which came a bit late in our civilizational march towards thinking machines. Almost like that cure for common cold.

One of the challenges I faced at Zendo was not at Zabuton or dokusan room trying to present my nonanswers to koan.. But at the dining hall. Especially during breakfast time. There were a few, who still went by their dietician’s menu in a low budgeted zendo. They were proteinmaniacs.  And if they are up ahead in the Q after our Meal Gatha, most often the last ones in the line, ended up as vegans for the day.  After due brain storming with Prakash, our Zendo manager. ( whom I think of very highly. I always tell him, he is at the wrong place. If he is working for a Corporate, he would end up as CEO if not Chairman of that company. And most often, a hearty laugh would be his answer.)  we came up with a koan like note to be placed near the Egg tray.  “You can have as many eggs you want, after everyone else gets their first serving. “

Though many our guest meditators did like that, it did not solve the problem. There were heated exchanges and some heavy armor was called in to quell the egg rebellion.

I had almost forgotten about it until , this message from a recent  workshop popped in my WhatsApp.  “When you take eggs for breakfast be mindful of others. Those who come last are not getting.”

So I reckon, Eggxactly problem is not a local one, But a universal one. Especially in programs which tries to instill mindfulness.:) .

Almost 20 years ago, I attended an year long management program at  IIMB. The highlight of it was  the courses taken by redoubtable  Prof . Vaidyanathan. He taught us a course, Investment analysis and Risk management. One of the lessons I remember from that course ( may be the only lesson I remember from that course !) was his inputs on why we should start in a buffet from the desserts side , especially after that course.

Not so sure, Eggxactly mindful problem has any link to that.

Once upon a time, there was a good monthly magazine called Readers Digest. ( This is for Genz)… a mixture ( or avial) of everything.. A motivational story, some lessons/quizzes on words/vocabulary , some features and then a some quotable jokes. This joke as I remember goes like this.  “ In a seminary, during the snacks break, on the dining table , tow trays were kept at both ends.  One tray had biscuits and and another apples.  In the biscuit tray , there was a small note.  Pls be mindful of others and take only one biscuit. God is watching you.”… Sooner, another small note came near the Apple tray..  “Take as many apples as you want.  God is busy watching the biscuit tray”.

Not so sure Meister Eckhart figured in that seminary syllabus.  He said and I quote “The eyes with which you see the God are the same eyes with which God sees you.”

You, as the God, is watching not only biscuits, apples but eggs too. 

And God often uses eggs to crack open the illusion of a separate self who must scramble to get its share.