Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses the Diamond Sutra, known as the "Cutter of All Doubts."

She story of the Buddha and his disciple, Subhuti, a Bodhisattva. It’s a paradoxical teaching: A Bodhisattva should give gifts without being "supported" by anything—not by a notion of a sign, a gift, or a recipient. If a gift is given with the thought "I am giving this to you," it is limited. However, if a gift is given without support—without the self-identification of a giver—the merit is immeasurable.

Lola draws a parallel here to the Jesus’ words that "the Son of Man hath nowhere to lay his head." She interprets this as a spiritual state of having "no support" in the ego or the material world.

True giving happens when the "me" is removed entirely, making the giver and the receiver one and the same, much like the right ha ...