Egotism
The Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty was a national hero for his success
as both a statesman and military leader. But despite his fame, power, and
wealth, he considered himself a humble and devout Buddhist. Often he
visited his favorite Zen master to study under him, and they seemed to get
along very well. The fact that he was prime minister apparently had no effect
on their relationship, which seemed to be simply one of a revered master and
respectful student.
One day, during his usual visit, the Prime Minister asked the master, "Your
Reverence, what is egotism according to Buddhism?" The master's face
turned red, and in a very condescending and insulting tone of voice, he shot
back, "What kind of stupid question is that!?"
This unexpected response so shocked the Prime Minister that he became
sullen and angry. The Zen master then smiled and said, "THIS, Your
Excellency, is egotism."
Zen Stories to Tell Your Neighbors
Elephant and Flea
Roshi Kapleau agreed to educate a group of psychoanalysts about Zen. After
being introduced to the group by the director of the analytic institute, the
Roshi quietly sat down upon a cushion placed on the floor. A student entered,
prostrated before the master, and then seated himself on another cushion a
few feet away, facing his teacher. "What is Zen?" the student asked. The
Roshi produced a banana, peeled it, and started eating. "Is that all? Can't
you show me anything else?" the student said. "Come closer, please," the
master replied. The student moved in and the Roshi waved the remaining
portion of the banana before the student's face. The student prostrated, and
left.
A second student rose to address the audience. "Do you all understand?"
When there was no response, the student added, "You have just witnessed a
first-rate demonstration of Zen. Are there any questions?"
After a long silence, someone spoke up. "Roshi, I am not satisfied with your
demonstration. You have shown us something that I am not sure I
understand. It must be possible to TELL us what Zen is."
"If you must insist on words," the Roshi replied, "then Zen is an elephant
copulating with a flea."
Roshi Kapleau agreed to educate a group of psychoanalysts about Zen. After
being introduced to the group by the director of the analytic institute, the
Roshi quietly sat down upon a cushion placed on the floor. A student entered,
prostrated before the master, and then seated himself on another cushion a
few feet away, facing his teacher. "What is Zen?" the student asked. The
Roshi produced a banana, peeled it, and started eating. "Is that all? Can't
you show me anything else?" the student said. "Come closer, please," the
master replied. The student moved in and the Roshi waved the remaining
portion of the banana before the student's face. The student prostrated, and
left.
A second student rose to address the audience. "Do you all understand?"
When there was no response, the student added, "You have just witnessed a
first-rate demonstration of Zen. Are there any questions?"
After a long silence, someone spoke up. "Roshi, I am not satisfied with your
demonstration. You have shown us something that I am not sure I
understand. It must be possible to TELL us what Zen is."
"If you must insist on words," the Roshi replied, "then Zen is an elephant
copulating with a flea."
Empty Your Cup
A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master
quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the
visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the
overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No
more will go in!" the professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master
replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."
A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master
quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the
visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the
overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No
more will go in!" the professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master
replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."
Enlightened
One day the Master announced that a young monk had reached an advanced
state of enlightment. The news caused some stir. Some of the monks went to
see the young monk. "We heard you are enlightened. Is that true?" they
asked.
"It is," he replied.
"And how do you feel?"
"As miserable as ever," said the monk.
One day the Master announced that a young monk had reached an advanced
state of enlightment. The news caused some stir. Some of the monks went to
see the young monk. "We heard you are enlightened. Is that true?" they
asked.
"It is," he replied.
"And how do you feel?"
"As miserable as ever," said the monk.
Full Awareness
After ten years of apprenticeship, Tenno achieved the rank of Zen teacher.
One rainy day, he went to visit the famous master Nan-in. When he walked
in, the master greeted him with a question, "Did you leave your wooden clogs
and umbrella on the porch?"
"Yes," Tenno replied.
"Tell me," the master continued, "did you place your umbrella to the left of
your shoes, or to the right?"
Tenno did not know the answer, and realized that he had not yet attained full
awareness. So he became Nan-in's apprentice and studied under him for ten
more years.
After ten years of apprenticeship, Tenno achieved the rank of Zen teacher.
One rainy day, he went to visit the famous master Nan-in. When he walked
in, the master greeted him with a question, "Did you leave your wooden clogs
and umbrella on the porch?"
"Yes," Tenno replied.
"Tell me," the master continued, "did you place your umbrella to the left of
your shoes, or to the right?"
Tenno did not know the answer, and realized that he had not yet attained full
awareness. So he became Nan-in's apprentice and studied under him for ten
more years.
The Gift of Insults
There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat
any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land
and many students gathered to study under him.
One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was
determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his
strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an
opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus
revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and
lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first
move.
Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly
accepted the young warrior's challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the
young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit
in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult
known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and
calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was
defeated, he left feeling shamed.
Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students
gathered around the old master and questioned him. "How could you endure
such an indignity? How did you drive him away?"
"If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it," the master
replied, "to whom does the gift belong?"
There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat
any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land
and many students gathered to study under him.
One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was
determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his
strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an
opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus
revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and
lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first
move.
Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly
accepted the young warrior's challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the
young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit
in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult
known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and
calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was
defeated, he left feeling shamed.
Somewhat disappointed that he did not fight the insolent youth, the students
gathered around the old master and questioned him. "How could you endure
such an indignity? How did you drive him away?"
"If someone comes to give you a gift and you do not receive it," the master
replied, "to whom does the gift belong?"
Going with the Flow
A Taoist story tells of an old man who accidentally fell into the river rapids
leading to a high and dangerous waterfall. Onlookers feared for his life.
Miraculously, he came out alive and unharmed downstream at the bottom of
the falls. People asked him how he managed to survive. "I accommodated
myself to the water, not the water to me. Without thinking, I allowed myself
to be shaped by it. Plunging into the swirl, I came out with the swirl. This is
how I survived."
A Taoist story tells of an old man who accidentally fell into the river rapids
leading to a high and dangerous waterfall. Onlookers feared for his life.
Miraculously, he came out alive and unharmed downstream at the bottom of
the falls. People asked him how he managed to survive. "I accommodated
myself to the water, not the water to me. Without thinking, I allowed myself
to be shaped by it. Plunging into the swirl, I came out with the swirl. This is
how I survived."
Gutei's Finger
Whenever anyone asked him about Zen, the great master Gutei would
quietly raise one finger into the air. A boy in the village began to imitate this
behavior. Whenever he heard people talking about Gutei's teachings, he
would interrupt the discussion and raise his finger. Gutei heard about the
boy's mischief. When he saw him in the street, he seized him and cut off his
finger. The boy cried and began to run off, but Gutei called out to him. When
the boy turned to look, Gutei raised his finger into the air. At that moment
the boy became enlightened.
Whenever anyone asked him about Zen, the great master Gutei would
quietly raise one finger into the air. A boy in the village began to imitate this
behavior. Whenever he heard people talking about Gutei's teachings, he
would interrupt the discussion and raise his finger. Gutei heard about the
boy's mischief. When he saw him in the street, he seized him and cut off his
finger. The boy cried and began to run off, but Gutei called out to him. When
the boy turned to look, Gutei raised his finger into the air. At that moment
the boy became enlightened.
Holy Man
Word spread across the countryside about the wise Holy Man who lived in a
small house atop the mountain. A man from the village decided to make the
long and difficult journey to visit him. When he arrived at the house, he saw
an old servant inside who greeted him at the door. "I would like to see the
wise Holy Man," he said to the servant. The servant smiled and led him
inside. As they walked through the house, the man from the village looked
eagerly around the house, anticipating his encounter with the Holy Man.
Before he knew it, he had been led to the back door and escorted outside. He
stopped and turned to the servant, "But I want to see the Holy Man!"
"You already have," said the old man. "Everyone you may meet in life, even
if they appear plain and insignificant... see each of them as a wise Holy Man.
If you do this, then whatever problem you brought here today will be
solved."
Word spread across the countryside about the wise Holy Man who lived in a
small house atop the mountain. A man from the village decided to make the
long and difficult journey to visit him. When he arrived at the house, he saw
an old servant inside who greeted him at the door. "I would like to see the
wise Holy Man," he said to the servant. The servant smiled and led him
inside. As they walked through the house, the man from the village looked
eagerly around the house, anticipating his encounter with the Holy Man.
Before he knew it, he had been led to the back door and escorted outside. He
stopped and turned to the servant, "But I want to see the Holy Man!"
"You already have," said the old man. "Everyone you may meet in life, even
if they appear plain and insignificant... see each of them as a wise Holy Man.
If you do this, then whatever problem you brought here today will be
solved."
I Don't Know
The emperor, who was a devout Buddhist, invited a great Zen master to the
Palace in order to ask him questions about Buddhism. "What is the highest
truth of the holy Buddhist doctrine?" the emperor inquired.
"Vast emptiness... and not a trace of holiness," the master replied.
"If there is no holiness," the emperor said, "then who or what are you?"
"I do not know," the master replied.
The emperor, who was a devout Buddhist, invited a great Zen master to the
Palace in order to ask him questions about Buddhism. "What is the highest
truth of the holy Buddhist doctrine?" the emperor inquired.
"Vast emptiness... and not a trace of holiness," the master replied.
"If there is no holiness," the emperor said, "then who or what are you?"
"I do not know," the master replied.
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