Zen Stories

51. Sour Miso
The cook monk Dairyo, at Bankei's monastery, decided that he would take good care of his old teacher's health and give him only fresh miso, a paste of soy beans mixed with wheat and yeast that often ferments.

Bankei, noticing that he was being served better miso than his pupils, asked: 'Who is the cook today?'
 
Dairyo was sent before him. Bankei learned that according to his age and position he should eat only fresh miso. So he said to the cook: Then you think I shouldn't eat at all.' With this he entered his room and locked the door.

Dairyo, sitting outside the door, asked his teacher’s pardon. Bankei would not answer. For seven days Dairyo sit outside and Bankei within.

Finally in desperation an adherent called loudly to Bankei: 'You may be all right old teacher, but this young disciple here has to eat. He cannot go without food forever!’

At that Bankei opened the door. He was smiling. He told Dairyo: 'I insist on eating the same food as the least of my followers. When you become the teacher I do not want you to forget this.'

52. Your Light may go out
A student of Tendai a philosophical school of Buddhism, came to the Zen abode of Gasan as a pupil.

When he was departing a few years later, Gasan warned him: 'Studying the truth speculatively is useful as a way of collecting preaching
material. But remember that unless you meditate constantly your light of truth may go out.'

53. The Giver Should be Thankful
While Seisetsu was the master of Engaku in Kamakura he required larger quarters, since those in which he was teaching were overcrowded.

Umezu Seibei, a merchant of Edo, decided to donate five hundred pieces of gold called ryo toward the construction of a more commodious school. This money he brought to the teacher. Seisetsu said: 'All right. I will take it.'

Umezu gave Seisetsu the sack of gold, but he was dissatisfied with the attitude of the teacher. One might live a whole year on three ryo, and the merchant had not even been thanked for five hundred.

'In that sack are five hundred ryo,' hinted Umezu.
"You told me that before,' replied Seisetsu.

'Even if I am a wealthy merchant, five hundred ryo is a lot of money,' said Umezu.
‘Do you want me to thank you for it?' asked Seisetsu.
"You ought to,' replied Umezu.
'Why should I?' inquired Seisetsu. ‘The giver should be thankful.'