Zen Stories

65. The Subjugation of a Ghost
A young wife fell sick and was about to die. 'I love you so much,' she told her husband, 'I do not want to leave you. Do not go from me to any other woman. If you do, I will return as a ghost and cause you endless trouble.'

Soon the wife passed away. The husband respected her last wish for the first three months but then he met another woman and fell in love with her. They became engaged to be married.

Immediately after the engagement a ghost appeared every night to the man blaming him for not keeping his promise. The ghost was clever too. She told him exactly what had transpired between himself and his new sweetheart.

Whenever he gave his fiancée a present the ghost would describe it in detail She would even repeat conversations, and it so annoyed the man that he could not sleep. Someone advised him to take his problem to a Zen master who lived close to the village.

At length, in despair, the poor man went to him for help. 'Your former wife became a ghost and knows everything you do,' commented the master. 'Whatever you do or say, whatever you give your beloved she knows. She must be a very wise ghost. Really you should admire such a ghost. The next time she appears, bargain with her. Tell her she knows so much you can hide nothing from her, and that if she will answer you one question, you promise to break your engagement and remain single.'

'What is the question I must ask her?' inquired the man.
The master replied: Take a large handful of soybeans and ask her exactly how many beans you hold in your hand. If she cannot tell you, you will know she is only figment of your imagination and will trouble you no longer.'

The next night, when the ghost appeared the man flattered her and told her that she knew everything. 'Indeed,' replied the ghost, 'and I know you went to see that Zen master today.

'And since you know so much,' demanded the man, 'tell me how many beans I hold in this hand!'
There was no longer any ghost to answer the question.

66.Children of His Majesty
Yamaoka Tesshu was a tutor of the emperor. He was also a master of fencing and a profound student of Zen. His home was the abode of vagabonds. He had but one suit of clothes, for they kept him always poor.

The emperor, observing how worn his garments were, gave Yamaoka some money to buy new ones. The next rime Yamaoka appeared he wore the same old outfit.

'What became of the new clothes, Yamaoka?' asked the emperor.
'I provided clothes for the children of Your Majesty,' explained Yamaoka.
 

67. What Are You Doing! What Are You Saying!
In modern times a great deal of nonsense is talked about masters and disciples, and about the inheritance of a master's teaching by favorite pupils, entitling them to pass the truth on to their adherents.

Of course Zen should be imparted in this way, from heart to heart, and in the past it was really accomplished. Silence and humility reigned rather than profession and assertion. The one who received such a teaching kept the matter hidden even after twenty years.

Not until another discovered through his own need that a real master was at hand was it learned that the teaching had been imparted, and even then the occasion arose quite naturally and the teaching made its way in its own right. Under no circumstance did the teacher ever claim 'I am the successor of So-and-so.'

Such a claim would prove quite the contrary The Zen master Mu-nan had only one successor. His name was Shoju. After Shoju had completed his study of Zen. Munan called him into his room. 'I am getting old,' he said, 'and as far as I know Shoju, you are the only one who will carry out this teaching. Here is a book. It has been passed down from master to master for seven generations. I also have added many points according to my understanding. The book is very valuable and I am giving it to you to represent your successor ship.'

'If the book is such an important thing, you had better keep it,' Shoju replied.’ I received your Zen without writing and am satisfied with it as it is.'
‘I know that,' said Mu-nan. 'Even so, this work has been carried from master to master for seven generations, so you may keep it as a symbol of having received the teaching. Here.'

The two happened to be talking before a brazier. The instant Shoju felt the book in his hands he thrust it into the flaming coals. He had no lust for possessions.

Mu-nan who never had been angry before yelled: 'What are you doing!'
Shoju shouted back: 'What are you saying!'