Zen short story: The death of the master was not the master's death.

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The Zen master, Zendau Dorschai, had been sick for many years. He suffered from some debilitating illness, that had been left undiagnosed in those olden times. Zendau became weaker and weaker, then he died, not altogether unexpectedly, and a student found him dead in his bed, one morning. The funeral was held the same day. His chief disciple administered the ceremony. Right towards the end of the send-off, a voice was heard in their midst. "I am not as dead as some of you are not awake." Bushka, the head disciple, hit the old man on the head with the old master's clay pipe, and said, "We are the dead, but you are not the master of life and death." "You are a dead one in a dead world, we see you dead, but hear you speak, where is the life in you now." The master opened his eyes once more, closed them quickly again, and died. What is the meaning here? A master dies when he allows himself to die, not when others declare him to be dead. A master is not dead until he is dead. Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, freeimages.com The coffin was long ready, but the master would only enter it when he wanted/decided to do so.