My fav Zen story

PAX-MAN · May 21, 2007

in a small village on the coast and warning bell is been rung. the rice field is on fire. everyone runs up the hill to put it out. while they are fighting the fire and big wave comes crashing in on their village , washing it away. everone is as mad as hell because they have lost everthing . a monk asks EVERYTHING?
do you have one to share?

White Feather · May 22, 2007

Once when Hyakujo delivered some Zen lectures an old man attended them, unseen by the monks. At the end of each talk when the monks left so did he. But one day he remained after they had gone, and Hyakujo asked him: "Who are you?"

The old man replied: "I am not a human being, but I was a human being when the Kashapa Buddha preached in this world. I was a Zen master and lived on this mountain. At that time one of my students asked me whether or not the enlightened man is subject to the law of causation. I answered him: 'The enlightened man is not subject to the law of causation.' For this answer evidencing a clinging to absoluteness I became a fox for five hundred rebirths, and I am still a fox. Will you save me from this condition with your Zen words and let me get out of a fox's body? Now may I ask you: Is the enlightened man subject to the law of causation?"

Hyakujo said: "The enlightened man is one with the law of causation."

At the words of Hyakujo the old man was enlightened. "I am emancipated," he said, paying homage with a deep bow. "I am no more a fox, but I have to leave my body in my dwelling place behind this mountain. Please perform my funeral as a monk." Then he disappeared.

The next day Hyakujo gave an order through the chief monk to prepare to attend the funeral of a monk. "No one was sick in the infirmary," wondered the monks. "What does our teacher mean?"

After dinner Hyakujo led the monks out and around the mountain. In a cave, with his staff he poked out the corpse of an old fox and then performed the ceremony of cremation.

That evening Hyakujo gave a talk to the monks and told them this story about the law of causation.

Obaku, upon hearing the story, asked Hyakujo: "I understand that a long time ago because a certain person gave a wrong Zen answer he became a fox for five hundred rebirths. Now I want to ask: If some modern master is asked many questions and he always gives the right answer, what will become of him?"

Hyakujo said: "You come here near me and I will tell you."

Obaku went near Hyakujo and slapped the teacher's face with his hand, for he knew this was the answer his teacher intended to give him.

Hyakujo clapped his hands and laughed at this discernment. "I thought a Persian had a red beard," he said, "and now I know a Persian who has a red beard."
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http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/glg/glg02.htm

420MAN · May 27, 2007

a monk returning to his hut after meditating in the forest all day finds a thief ransacking it. The monk knows that there is nothing to steal, so he takes off his clothes and gives them to the thief. The thief runs off into the forest. The monk looks up at the sky and sees a beautiful full moon and laments that he could not give this to the thief as well.

darrellkitchen · May 28, 2007

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My fav Zen story

PAX-MAN Just A Old Hippy

White Feather Senior Member

420MAN Member

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My fav Zen story

PAX-MAN Just A Old Hippy

White Feather Senior Member

420MAN Member

darrellkitchen Lifetime Supporter

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