Thursday, January 17, 2008
A Lesson for us All
The master Bankei's talks were attended not only by Zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras not indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words were spoken directly from his heart to the hearts of his listeners.
His large audience angered a priest of the Nichiren sect because the adherents had left to hear about Zen. The self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to have a debate with Bankei.
"Hey, Zen teacher!" he called out. "Wait a minute. Whoever respects you will obey what you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?"
"Come up beside me and I will show you," said Bankei.
Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to the teacher.
Bankei smiled. "Come over to my left side."
The priest obeyed.
"No," said Bankei, "we may talk better if you are on the right side. Step over here."
The priest proudly stepped over to the right.
"You see," observed Bankei, "you are obeying me and I think you are a very gentle person. Now sit down and listen."
So one day news comes to the temple, that monks, who have all taken vows of silence, may speak aloud. However, only one of them may speak aloud, and only once a year. So the time comes and the monks sit down for breakfast on the morning that the first is able to speak. The first monk rises and after having not said a word in decades says, "I hate oatmeal." and sits back down.
ReplyDeleteOne year later at breakfast table, the second monk, who also has not spoken in a very long time, stands up and with all ears on him says, "I like oatmeal." and sits back down.
One entire year passes and the third monk stands up and says to everyone, "I'm tired of always talking about oatmeal!"
Damn Jason, you made beer come out my nose.
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