Zen Stories

73. Ten Successors
Zen pupils take a vow that even if they are killed by their teacher, they intend to learn Zen. Usually they cut a finger and seal their resolution with blood. In time the vow has become a men formality, and for this reason the pupil who died by
the hand of Ekido was made to appear a martyr.

Ekido had become a severe teacher. His pupils feared him. One of them on duty, striking the gong to tell the time of day, missed his beats when his eye was attracted by a beautiful girl passing the temple gate.

At that moment Ekido, who was directly behind him, hit him with a stick and the shock happened to kill him. The pupil's guardian, hearing of the accident went directly to Ekido.

Knowing that he was not to blame he praised the master for his severe teaching. Ekido's attitude was just the same as if the pupil were still alive. After this took place, he was able to produce under his guidance more than ten enlightened successors, a very unusual number.

74. True Reformation
Ryokan devoted his life to the study of Zen. One day he heard that his nephew, despite the admonitions of relatives, was spending his money on a courtesan.

In as much as the nephew had taken Ryokan's place in managing the family estate and the property was in danger of being dissipated, the relatives asked Ryokan to do something about it.

Ryokan had to travel a long way to visit his nephew, whom he had not seen for many years. The nephew seemed pleased to meet his uncle again and invited him to remain overnight.

All night Ryokan sat in meditation. As he was departing in the morning he said to the young man: ‘I must be getting old, my hand shakes so. Will you help me tie the string of my straw sandal?'

The nephew helped him willingly. ‘Thank you,' finished Ryokan, 'you see, a man becomes older and feebler day by day. Take good care of yourself.' Then Ryokan left, never mentioning a word about the courtesan or the complaints of the relatives. But, from that morning on, the dissipations of the nephew ended.

75. Temper
A Zen student came to Bankei and complained: ‘Master, I have an ungovernable temper. How can I cure it?’

'You have something very strange,' replied Bankei. 'Let me see what you have.'
'Just now I cannot show it to you,' replied the other.

'When can you show it to me?' asked Bankei.
'It arises unexpectedly,' replied the student.

‘Then,' concluded Bankei, 'it must not be your own nature. If it were, you could show it to me at any time. When you were born you did not have if and your parents did not give it to you. Think that over.'

76. The Stone Mind
Hogen, a Chinese Zen teacher, lived alone in a small temple in the country. One day four traveling monks appeared and asked if they might make a fire in his yard to warm themselves.

While they were building the fire, Hogen heard them arguing about subjectivity and objectivity. He joined them and said: There is a big stone. Do you consider it to be inside or outside your mind?'

One of the monks replied: 'From the Buddhist viewpoint everything is an objectification of mind, so I would say that the stone is inside my mind.'

'Your head must feel very heavy’, observed Hogen. 'if you are carrying around a stone like that in your mind.'