 |
Page1
Page2
Page3
Page4 Page5
Page6
Page7
Page8
Page9
Page10
41.Searching for Buddha
A monk set off on a long pilgrimage to find the Buddha. He devoted many years to
his search until he finally reached the land where the Buddha was said to live.
While crossing the river to this country, the monk looked around as the boatman
rowed. He noticed something floating towards them. As it got closer, he realized
that it was the corpse of a person. When it drifted so close that he could
almost touch it, he suddenly recognized the dead body - it was his own! He lost
all control and wailed at the sight of himself, still and lifeless, drifting
along the river's currents. That moment was the beginning of his liberation.
*******************************
42.Self-Control
One day there was an earthquake that shook the entire Zen temple. Parts of it
even collapsed. Many of the monks were terrified. When the earthquake stopped
the teacher said, "Now you have had the opportunity to see how a Zen man behaves
in a crisis situation. You may have noticed that I did not panic. I was quite
aware of what was happening and what to do. I led you all to the kitchen, the
strongest part of the temple. It was a good decision, because you see we have
all survived without any injuries. However, despite my self-control and
composure, I did feel a little bit tense - which you may have deduced from the
fact that I drank a large glass of water, something I never do under ordinary
circumstances."
One of the monks smiled, but didn't say anything.
"What are you laughing at?" asked the teacher.
"That wasn't water," the monk replied, "it was a large glass of soy sauce."
*********************************
43.Sounds of Silence
Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By
nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The
first monk said, "Oh, no! The candle is out." The second monk said, "Aren't we
not suppose to talk?" The third monk said, "Why must you two break the silence?"
The fourth monk laughed and said, "Ha! I'm the only one who didn't speak."
*****************************
44.Successor
The old Zen master's health was fading. Knowing his death was near, he announced
to all the monks that he soon would be passing down his robe and rice bowl to
appoint the next master of the monastery. His choice, he said, would be based on
a contest. Anyone seeking the appointment was required to demonstrate his
spiritual wisdom by submitting a poem. The head monk, the most obvious
successor, presented a poem that was well composed and insightful. All the monks
anticipated his selection as their new leader. However, the next morning another
poem appeared on the wall in the hallway, apparently written during the dark
hours of the night. It stunned everyone with it's elegance and profundity but no
one knew who the author was. Determined to find this person, the old master
began questioning all the monks. To his surprise, the investigation led to the
rather quiet kitchen worker who pounded rice for the meals. Upon hearing the
news, the jealous head monk and his comrades plotted to kill their rival. In
secret, the old master passed down his robe and bowl to the rice pounder, who
quickly fled from the monastery, later to become a widely renowned Zen teacher.
********************************
45.Spider
A Tibetan story tells of a meditation student who, while meditating in his room,
believed he saw a spider descending in front of him. Each day the menacing
creature returned, growing larger and larger each time. So frightened was the
student, that he went to his teacher to report his dilemma. He said he planned
to place a knife in his lap during meditation, so when the spider appeared he
would kill it. The teacher advised him against this plan. Instead, he suggested,
bring a piece of chalk to meditation, and when the spider appeared, mark an "X"
on its belly. Then report back.
The student returned to his meditation. When the spider again appeared, he
resisted the urge to attack it, and instead did just what the master suggested.
When he later reported back to the master, the teacher told him to lift up his
shirt and look at his own belly. There was the "X".
**************************
46.Surprising the Master
The students in the monastery were in total awe of the elder monk, not because
he was strict, but because nothing ever seemed to upset or ruffle him. So they
found him a bit unearthly and even frightening. One day they decided to put him
to a test. A bunch of them very quietly hid in a dark corner of one of the
hallways, and waited for the monk to walk by. Within moments, the old man
appeared, carrying a cup of hot tea. Just as he passed by, the students all
rushed out at him screaming as loud as they could. But the monk showed no
reaction whatsoever. He peacefully made his way to a small table at the end of
the hall, gently placed the cup down, and then, leaning against the wall, cried
out with shock, "Ohhhhh!"
*******************************
47.Tea Combat
A master of the tea ceremony in old Japan once accidentally slighted a soldier.
He quickly apologized, but the rather impetuous soldier demanded that the matter
be settled in a sword duel. The tea master, who had no experience with swords,
asked the advice of a fellow Zen master who did possess such skill. As he was
served by his friend, the Zen swordsman could not help but notice how the tea
master performed his art with perfect concentration and tranquility. "Tomorrow,"
the Zen swordsman said, "when you duel the soldier, hold your weapon above your
head, as if ready to strike, and face him with the same concentration and
tranquility with which you perform the tea ceremony." The next day, at the
appointed time and place for the duel, the tea master followed this advice. The
soldier, readying himself to strike, stared for a long time into the fully
attentive but calm face of the tea master. Finally, the soldier lowered his
sword, apologized for his arrogance, and left without a blow being struck.
*********************************
48.Tea or Iron
The Zen master Hakuin used to tell his students about an old woman who owned a
tea shop in the village. She was skilled in the tea ceremony, Hakuin said, and
her understanding of Zen was superb. Many students wondered about this and went
to the village themselves to check her out. Whenever the old woman saw them
coming, she could tell immediately whether they had come to experience the tea,
or to probe her grasp of Zen. Those wanting tea she served graciously. For the
others wanting to learn about her Zen knowledge, she hid until they approached
her door and then attacked them with a fire poker. Only one out of ten managed
to escape her beating.
*************************
49.Transient
A famous spiritual teacher came to the front door of the King's palace. None of
the guards tried to stop him as he entered and made his way to where the King
himself was sitting on his throne.
"What do you want?" asked the King, immediately recognizing the visitor.
"I would like a place to sleep in this inn," replied the teacher.
"But this is not an inn," said the King, "It is my palace."
"May I ask who owned this palace before you?"
"My father. He is dead."
"And who owned it before him?"
"My grandfather. He too is dead."
"And this place where people live for a short time and then move on - did I hear
you say that it is NOT an inn?"
****************************
50.True Self
A distraught man approached the Zen master. "Please, Master, I feel lost,
desperate. I don't know who I am. Please, show me my true self!" But the teacher
just looked away without responding. The man began to plead and beg, but still
the master gave no reply. Finally giving up in frustration, the man turned to
leave. At that moment the master called out to him by name. "Yes!" the man said
as he spun back around. "There it is!" exclaimed the master.
****************************
|
