monk

Zen Masters Stories

posted in: Zen Stories & Teachings | 0

 

Unmon’s “Two Diseases”

Great Master Unmon said, “When the light does not penetrate, there are two diseases.
Everything is unclear and things hang before you – this is one disease. Even after you have realized the emptiness of all things, somehow you feel as if there were still something there.
This shows that the light has not yet penetrated thoroughly. “Also there are two diseases concerning the Dharma-body. You have reached the Dharma-body, but you remain attached to the Dharma and cannot extinguish your own view; therefore you lead a corrupt life around the Dharma-body – this is one disease.

Suppose you have truly penetrated to the end, if you give up further efforts, it will not do. You examine yourself minutely and say you have no flaw — this is nothing but a disease.

 

Jizô Plants the Rice Field

Jizô asked Shuzanshu, “Where have you come from?’ Shuzanshu said, “I have come from the South.” Jizô said, “How is Buddhism in the South these days?” Shuzanshu said, “There is much lively discussion.” Jizô said, “How could that match with our planting the rice field here and making rice-balls to eat?” Shuzanshu said, “How could you then save the beings of the Three Worlds?” Jizô said, “What do you call ‘the Three Worlds’?”

 

Rinzai’s “Blind Donkey”

When Rinzai was about to die, he entrusted Sanshô with his Dharma and said, “After my passing, do not destroy my treasury of the Eye of the true Dharma4.” Sanshô said, “How would I dare destroy your treasury of the Eye of the true Dharma?” Rinzai said, “If someone asks you about it, how will you answer?” Sanshô instantly shouted his Kaatz.

Rinzai said, “Who knows that my treasury of the Eye of the true Dharma has been destroyed by this blind donkey?”