 |
Page1
Page2
Page3
Page4 Page5
Page6
Page7
Page8
Page9
Page10
51.A Useless Life
A farmer got so old that he couldn't work the fields anymore. So he would spend
the day just sitting on the porch. His son, still working the farm, would look
up from time to time and see his father sitting there. "He's of no use any
more," the son thought to himself, "he doesn't do anything!" One day the son got
so frustrated by this, that he built a wood coffin, dragged it over to the
porch, and told his father to get in. Without saying anything, the father
climbed inside. After closing the lid, the son dragged the coffin to the edge of
the farm where there was a high cliff. As he approached the drop, he heard a
light tapping on the lid from inside the coffin. He opened it up. Still lying
there peacefully, the father looked up at his son. "I know you are going to
throw me over the cliff, but before you do, may I suggest something?" "What is
it?" replied the son. "Throw me over the cliff, if you like," said the father,
"but save this good wood coffin. Your children might need to use it."
**********************
52.Wanting God
A hermit was meditating by a river when a young man interrupted him. "Master, I
wish to become your disciple," said the man. "Why?" replied the hermit. The
young man thought for a moment. "Because I want to find God."
The master jumped up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him into
the river, and plunged his head under water. After holding him there for a
minute, with him kicking and struggling to free himself, the master finally
pulled him up out of the river. The young man coughed up water and gasped to get
his breath. When he eventually quieted down, the master spoke. "Tell me, what
did you want most of all when you were under water."
"Air!" answered the man.
"Very well," said the master. "Go home and come back to me when you want God as
much as you just wanted air."
*********************************
53.When Tired
A student once asked his teacher, "Master, what is enlightenment?"
The master replied, "When hungry, eat. When tired, sleep."
(In other versions of this story, one disciple is bragging about his master to
the disciple of another master. He claims that his teacher is capable of all
sorts of magical acts, like writing in the air with a brush, and having the
characters appear on a piece of paper hundreds of feet away. "And what can YOUR
master do?" he asks the other disciple. "My master can also perform amazing
feats," the other student replies. "When he's tired, he sleeps. When hungry, he
eats"........... or simply, "When he sleeps, he sleeps. When he eats, he eats.")
**************************
54.without Fear
During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into
a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before
the army arrived - everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old
fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this
master was. When he wasn't treated with the deference and submissiveness to
which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger. "You fool," he shouted as
he reached for his sword, "don't you realize you are standing before a man who
could run you through without blinking an eye!" But despite the threat, the
master seemed unmoved. "And do you realize," the master replied calmly, "that
you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?"
(other versions of this story then describe how the general, surprised and awed
by the master, sheepishly leaves)
*************************
55.Working Very Hard
A martial arts student went to his teacher and said earnestly, "I am devoted to
studying your martial system. How long will it take me to master it." The
teacher's reply was casual, "Ten years." Impatiently, the student answered, "But
I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice
everyday, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?" The
teacher thought for a moment, "20 years."
(in other versions of this story, the student says he is eager to attain
"enlightenment")
*************************
56.The Blockhead Lord
Two Zen teachers, Daigu and Gudo, were invited to visit a lord. Upon arriving,
Gudo said to the lord: "You are wise by nature and have an inborn ability to
learn Zen."
"Nonsense," said Daigu. "Why do you flatter this blockhead? He may be a lord,
but he doesn't know anything of Zen."
So, instead of building a temple for Gudo, the lord built it for Daigu and
studied Zen with him.
*********************
57.True Reformation
Ryokan devoted his life to the study of Zen. One day he heard that his nephew,
despite the admonitions of relatives, was spending his money on a courtesan.
Inasmuch as the nephew had taken Ryokan's place in managing the family estate
and the property was in danger of being dissipated, the relatives asked Ryoken
to do something about it.
Ryokan had to travel a long way to visit his nephew, whom he had not seen for
many years. The nephew seemed pleased to meet his uncle again and invited him to
remain overnight.
All night Ryokan sat in meditation. As he was departing in the morning he said
to the young man: "I must be getting old, my hand shakes so. Will you help me
tie the string of my straw sandal?"
The nephew helped him willingly. "Thank you," finished Ryokan, "you see, a man
becomes older and feebler day by day. Take good care of yourself." Then Ryokan
left, never mentioning a word about the courtesan or the complaints of the
relatives. But, from that morning on, the dissipations of the nephew ended.
*************************
58.Temper
A Zen student came to Bankei and complained: "Master, I have an ungovernable
temper. How can I cure it?"
"You have something very strange," replied Bankei. "Let me see what you have."
"Just now I cannot show it to you," replied the other.
"When can you show it to me?" asked Bankei.
"It arises unexpectedly," replied the student.
"Then," concluded Bankei, "it must not be your own true nature. If it were, you
could show it to me at any time. When you were born you did not have it, and
your parents did not give it to you. Think that over."
**************************
59.The Stone Mind
Hogen, a Chinese Zen teacher, lived alone in a small temple in the country. One
day four traveling monks appeared and asked if they might make a fire in his
yard to warm themselves.
While they were building the fire, Hogen heard them arguing about subjectivity
and objectivity. He joined them and said: "There is a big stone. Do you consider
it to be inside or outside your mind?"
One of the monks replied: "From the Buddhist viewpoint everything is an
objectification of mind, so I would say that the stone is inside my mind."
"Your head must feel very heavy," observed Hogen, "if you are carrying around a
stone like that in your mind."
***************************
60.The Real Miracle
When Bankei was preaching at Ryumon temple, a Shinshu priest, who believed in
salvation through repetition of the name of the Buddha of Love, was jealous of
his large audience and wanted to debate with him.
Bankei was in the midst of a talk when the priest appeared, but the fellow made
such a disturbance that Bankei stopped his discourse and asked about the noise.
"The founder of our sect," boasted the priest, "had such miraculous powers that
he held a brush in his hand on one bank of the river, his attendant held up a
paper on the other bank, and the teacher wrote the holy name of Amida through
the air. Can you do such a wonderful thing?"
Bankei replied lightly: "Perhaps your fox can perform that trick, but that is
not the manner of Zen. My miracle is that when I feel hungry I eat, and when I
feel thirsty I drink."
***************************
|
