DharmaDig.com : Stories kicked by bugu

Every-Minute Zen

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:10:57 GMT

Zen students are with their masters at least two years before they presume to teach others. Nan-in was visited by Tenno, who, having passed his apprenticeship, had become a teacher. The day happened to be rainy, so Tenno wore wooden clogs and carried an umbrella. After greeting him Nan-in remarked: "I suppose you left your wooden clogs in the vestibule. I want to know if your umbrella is on the right or left side of the clogs." Tenno, confused, had no instant answer. He realized that he was unable to carry his Zen every minute. He became Nan-in's pupil, and he studied six more years to accomplish his every-minute Zen.

A Smile in His Lifetime

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:09:45 GMT

Mokugen was never known to smile until his last day on earth. When his time came to pass away he said to his faithful ones: "You have studied under me for more than ten years. Show me your real interpretation of Zen. Whoever expresses this most clearly shall by my successor and receive my robe and bowl." Everyone watched Mokugen's severe face, but no one answered. Encho, a disciple who had been with his teacher for a long time, moved near the bedside. He pushed forward the medicine cup a few inches. This was his answer to the command. The teacher's face became even more severe. "Is that all you understand?" he asked. Encho reached out and moved the cup back again. A beautiful smile broke over the features of Mokugen. "You rascal," he told Encho. "You worked with me ten years and have not yet seen my whole body. Take the robe and bowl. They belong to you."

Mokusen's Hand

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:09:08 GMT

Mokusen Hiki was living in a temple in the province of Tamba. One of his adherents complained of the stinginess of his wife. Mokusen visited the adherent's wife and showed her his clenched fist before her face. "What do you mean by that?" asked the surprised woman. "Suppose my fist were always like that. What would you call it?" he asked. "Deformed," replied the woman. The he opened his hand flat in her face and asked: "Suppose it were always like that. What then?" "Another kind of deformity," said the wife. "If you understand that much," finished Mokusen, "you are a good wife." Then he left. After his visit, this wife helped her husband to distribute as well as to save.

Inch Time Foot Gem

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:08:34 GMT

A lord asked Takuan, a Zen teacher, to suggest how he might pass the time. He felt his days very long attending his office and sitting stiffly to receive the homage of others. Takuan wrote eight Chinese characters and gave them to the man: Not twice this day Inch time foot gem. This day will not come again. Each minute is worth a priceless gem.

Everything is Best

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:08:01 GMT

When Banzan was walking through a market he overheard a conversation between a butcher and his customer. "Give me the best piece of meat you have," said the customer. "Everything in my shop is the best," replied the butcher. "You cannot find here any piece of meat that is not the best." At these words Banzan became enlightened.

Calling Card

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:07:33 GMT

Keichu, the great Zen teacher of the Meiji era, was the head of Tofuku, a cathedral in Kyoto. One day the governor of Kyoto called upon him for the first time. His attendant presented the card of the governor, which read: Kitagaki, Governor of Kyoto. "I have no business with such a fellow," said Keichu to his attendant. "Tell him to get out of here."The attendant carried the card back with apologies. "That was my error," said the governor, and with a pencil he scratched out the words Governor of Kyoto. "Ask your teacher again." "Oh, is that Kitagaki?" exclaimed the teacher when he saw the card. "I want to see that fellow."

No Water, No Moon

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:06:41 GMT

When the nun Chiyono studied Zen under Bukko of Engaku she was unable to attain the fruits of meditation for a long time. At last one moonlit night she was carrying water in an old pail bound with bamboo. The bamboo broke and the bottom fell out of the pail, and at that moment Chiyono was set free! In commemoration, she wrote a poem: In this way and that I tried to save the old pail Since the bamboo strip was weakening and about to break Until at last the bottom fell out. No more water in the pail! No more moon in the water!

Open Your Own Treasure House

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:05:42 GMT

Daiju visited the master Baso in China. Baso asked: "What do you seek?" "Enlightenment," replied Daiju. "You have your own treasure house. Why do you search outside?" Baso asked. Daiju inquired: "Where is my treasure house?" Baso answered: "What you are asking is your treasure house." Daiju was delighted! Ever after he urged his friends: "Open your own treasure house and use those treasures."

The Voice of Happiness

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:03:47 GMT

After Bankei had passed away, a blind man who lived near the master's temple told a friend: "Since I am blind, I cannot watch a person's face, so I must judge his character by the sound of his voice. Ordinarily when I hear someone congratulate another upon his happiness or success, I also hear a secret tone of envy. When condolence is expressed for the misfortune of another, I hear pleasure and satisfaction, as if the one condoling was really glad there was something left to gain in his own world. "In all my experience, however, Bankei's voice was always sincere. Whenever he expressed happiness, I heard nothing but happiness, and whenever he expressed sorrow, sorrow was all I heard."

Trading Dialogue For Lodging

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:02:39 GMT

Provided he makes and wins an argument about Buddhism with those who live there, any wandering monk can remain in a Zen temple. If he is defeated, he has to move on. In a temple in the northern part of Japan two brother monks were dwelling together. The elder one was learned, but the younger one was stupid and had but one eye. A wandering monk came and asked for lodging, properly challenging them to a debate about the sublime teaching. The elder brother, tired that day from much studying, told the younger one to take his place. "Go and request the dialogue in silence," he cautioned. So the young monk and the stranger went to the shrine and sat down. Shortly afterwards the traveler rose and went in to the elder brother and said: "Your young brother is a wonderful fellow. He defeated me." "Relate the dialogue to me," said the elder one.

Ritual Cat

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:52:00 GMT

When the spiritual teacher and his disciples began their evening meditation, the cat who lived in the monastery made such noise that it distracted them. So the teacher ordered that the cat be tied up during the evening practice. Years later, when the teacher died, the cat continued to be tied up during the meditation session. And when the cat eventually died, another cat was brought to the monastery and tied up. Centuries later, learned descendants of the spiritual teacher wrote scholarly treatises about the religious significance of tying up a cat for meditation practice.

Prosperity

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:51:12 GMT

A rich man asked a Zen master to write something down that could encourage the prosperity of his family for years to come. It would be something that the family could cherish for generations. On a large piece of paper, the master wrote, "Father dies, son dies, grandson dies." The rich man became angry when he saw the master's work. "I asked you to write something down that could bring happiness and prosperity to my family. Why do you give me something depressing like this?" "If your son should die before you," the master answered, "this would bring unbearable grief to your family. If your grandson should die before your son, this also would bring great sorrow. If your family, generation after generation, disappears in the order I have described, it will be the natural course of life. This is true happiness and prosperity."

The Present Moment

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:49:25 GMT

A Japanese warrior was captured by his enemies and thrown into prison. That night he was unable to sleep because he feared that the next day he would be interrogated, tortured, and executed. Then the words of his Zen master came to him, "Tomorrow is not real. It is an illusion. The only reality is now." Heeding these words, the warrior became peaceful and fell asleep.

Practice Makes Perfect

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:48:03 GMT

A dramatic ballad singer studied under a strict teacher who insisted that he rehearse day after day, month after month the same passage from the same song, without being permitted to go any further. Finally, overwhelmed by frustration and despair, the young man ran off to find another profession. One night, stopping at an inn, he stumbled upon a recitation contest. Having nothing to lose, he entered the competition and, of course, sang the one passage that he knew so well. When he had finished, the sponsor of the contest highly praised his performance. Despite the student's embarrassed objections, the sponsor refused to believe that he had just heard a beginner perform. "Tell me," the sponsor said, "who is your instructor? He must be a great master." The student later became known as the great performer Koshiji.

Paradise

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:47:16 GMT

Two people are lost in the desert. They are dying from hunger and thirst. Finally, they come to a high wall. On the other side they can hear the sound of a waterfall and birds singing. Above, they can see the branches of a lush tree extending over the top of the wall. Its fruit look delicious. One of them manages to climb over the wall and disappears down the other side. The other, instead, returns to the desert to help other lost travelers find their way to the oasis.

Obsessed

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:46:17 GMT

Two traveling monks reached a river where they met a young woman. Wary of the current, she asked if they could carry her across. One of the monks hesitated, but the other quickly picked her up onto his shoulders, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other bank. She thanked him and departed. As the monks continued on their way, the one was brooding and preoccupied. Unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. "Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women, but you picked that one up on your shoulders and carried her!" "Brother," the second monk replied, "I set her down on the other side, while you are still carrying her."

Not Dead Yet

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:45:04 GMT

The Emperor asked Master Gudo, "What happens to a man of enlightenment after death?" "How should I know?" replied Gudo. "Because you are a master," answered the Emperor. "Yes sir," said Gudo, "but not a dead one."

No More Questions

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:44:03 GMT

Upon meeting a Zen master at a social event, a psychiatrist decided to ask him a question that had been on his mind. "Exactly how do you help people?" he inquired. "I get them where they can't ask any more questions," the Master answered.

Nature's Beauty

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:43:11 GMT

A priest was in charge of the garden within a famous Zen temple. He had been given the job because he loved the flowers, shrubs, and trees. Next to the temple there was another, smaller temple where there lived a very old Zen master. One day, when the priest was expecting some special guests, he took extra care in tending to the garden. He pulled the weeds, trimmed the shrubs, combed the moss, and spent a long time meticulously raking up and carefully arranging all the dry autumn leaves. As he worked, the old master watched him with interest from across the wall that separated the temples. When he had finished, the priest stood back to admire his work. "Isn't it beautiful," he called out to the old master. "Yes," replied the old man, "but there is something missing. Help me over this wall and I'll put it right for you." After hesitating, the priest lifted the old fellow over and set him down. Slowly, the master walked to the tree near the center of the garden, grabbed it by the trunk, and shook it. Leaves showered down all over the garden. "There," said the old man, "you can put me back now."

No Thought of Gain or Loss is Freedom from Samsara

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:16:01 GMT

Ordinary people cannot conceive of the Buddha's wisdom. Even Arahats are unable to comprehend such wisdom. For an ordinary person to try to fathom what the Buddha knows would be like trying to light up Mt. Sumeru with fireflies. Ordinary people rely on the knowledge that they have acquired; thus they can only see the material world of forms. The cannot see beyond it. Their thinking is already separate from reality. Such activity leads nowhere; it will produce nothing -- like the blossoming of imaginary flowers.

No Anger or Love between Master and Disciple

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:15:22 GMT

A practitioner should not feel proud if a master thinks highly of him, wishes to accept him, and shows affection for him. If he is driven away by the master, the disciple should feel no hatred. Similarly, the master himself should not feel proud, even if he is surrounded by many disciples. Nor should he feel unhappy if all his disciples leave; they run away simply because they are not worthy. Maintaining this attitude of equanimity is not easy. An ordinary person will find it difficult to be impartial when he considers his own merits; he will be reluctant to see his faults for what they are, or he may be apt to run down his genuine good points. Although they may seem different, self-deprecation and pride are really the same thing.

Mind and Dharma Dust

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:14:43 GMT

In my talks on the Surangama Sutra I have been speaking of the twelve ayatanas, or entries, which refer to the six sense organs and the six sense objects. An entry refers to a point or a position at which something can be specified or at which contact can be made. Today I will deal with the mind and its object, which comprise the eleventh and twelfth entries. Actually, the mind's object can also be translated as "the dust of the senses" or "dharma dust." Dharma is a word often used to describe the mind's object. This "dharma" is not to be confused with Buddhist teachings or the underlying laws of the universe. Dharma can have many meanings. Here it refers to thoughts, ideas, mental images.

Meditation, Mysticism and Ch'an

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:13:45 GMT

I would like at this point to speak about Ch'an and mysticism. Ch'an is something which started in China not in India. Many people have the misunderstanding that Ch'an and meditation are the same thing, Ch'an is meditation and meditation is Ch'an. This is not the case. Ch'an is actually the stage at which one has already gone through the various levels of meditation experience, but finally transcends these stages. Only this can be said to be Ch'an. If one only practices meditation, and does not transcend the meditation state, then one can at most remain at a stage in which the mind is unified and unchanging. If a person at this stage were to enter the dynamic, changing world then he would very likely lose this meditation state and enter the deluded state of mind. If one wishes to enter into and also maintain such a meditation state then it is necessary to continuously practice, and it is best to remove oneself from the world of everyday affairs and go into the mountains to practice. Otherwise, in his involvement with daily human interactions he will easily lose touch with this meditation state. However, even after having lost the ability to uninterruptedly maintain this state he will already be a different person by virtue of having once experienced it. He would tend to be more stable than others and would have a better understanding of the world than those who have never experienced this meditation state. Most people would call this person a man of wisdom.

Love and Desire

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:59:36 GMT

In the reading from the sutra today, Maitreya Bodhisattva asks how human beings came to exist. This is an extremely important question, and the section of the sutra which discusses it has had great influence in Buddhism. Condemnation of human existence is not the concern of Maitreya here. Rather, his goal is to urge sentient beings to cleanse their wisdom eyes and endure patiently the "uncreate," the changing world of name and form. Before discussing the response to Maitreya's question, let me clarify this two-fold goal. The sutras describe five stages of attainment. The first and most impure stage is that of the physical eye -- the level of most sentient beings. After having performed rigorous practice, supernatural powers may be obtained by which one perceives beings in the heavenly realms. One is thus said to have developed heavenly eyes and achieved the second stage. When freedom from birth and death is finally achieved and all vexations are terminated, one is said to have reached the third stage, wherein the wisdom eye is uncovered. If, once free from samsara, from birth and death, he remains in the world to help sentient beings, the Bodhisattva is said to possess the Dharma eye, more pure even than the wisdom eye. Finally, when the complete purification of the Dharma eye is realized, the Bodhisattva is said to have attained the Buddha eye, the final stage.

Light and Quakes

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:02:14 GMT

When Buddha expounded the Dharma, he emitted a strong light that radiated through the universe, and he generated six kinds of quakes that shook through all the Buddha worlds. Light is that which can be seen; it represents the hopefulness the Dharma can bring. Quakes can be felt; their motion and vibration represent the energy of the Dharma. These two phenomena are sufficient for the Buddha to express his teaching. The Dharma can really be expressed without any words or language at all. It is, in fact, inconceivable; it cannot be truly discussed or approached by reason. There are many sentient beings who see this light or feel the motion, and yet don't understand their significance. Therefore, it is still necessary for the Buddha to use words.