Zen Koan: When is cleanliness dirtiness?
By emptychair
@innertalks (23734)
Australia
September 2, 2020 10:37pm CST
The old Zen master, Dertylich Risgocle, was a stickler for cleanliness.
He used to make sure that his robe, and his sandals, and his hickory pipe, were all kept spotlessly clean, at all times.
Some of the meaner students, not yet well-zenned, used to tease him, and they would often, place dirt, in his pipe, or rub wet sand, onto his sandals.
One day, the old master had gone to his room for his pipe, and he found it full of horse manure.
He never complained, and he proceeded to smoke this instead of his normal tobacco.
The students then could never complain of the ensuring smell either. As he smoked it during their Zen lesson.
Another passing master told this old guy, Zen master Dertylich, though:
"You should give up your attachment to things, and to this obsession with cleanliness too."
The master replied,
"Would anybody addictively obsessed to cleanliness actually ever smoke a pipe full of horse manure, as I just did?"
"Go away and tend your horse. I am too busy smoking mine."
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
The old Zen master loved his pipe, which he claimed zenned him to use it.
2 people like this
2 responses
@innertalks (23734)
• Australia
5 Sep 20
Well, maybe he was just a bit too addicted to his habit, to climb down off of his high horse for now.
He would still rather smoke it instead...lol...
Even Zen masters can be addicted when they think that they are above such an addiction.
Here is another famous Zen tale about this type of a thing, an addiction to a book.
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 favourite 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 even 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, Mu-nan 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 on this teaching.
Here is a book. It has been passed down from master to master for seven generations. I have also added many points according to my understanding. The book is very valuable, and I am giving it to you to represent your successorship."
"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."
They 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!"
He was angry here, even though, he had thought that he was above all, anger....
@innertalks (23734)
• Australia
5 Sep 20
@Shiva49 That's true. If we are alive, we will be caught out at some stage in our life I suspect. The more aware we become, the less times this might happen to us though.
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
5 Sep 20
@innertalks Even a revered zen master is not above being tested of his resolve and then found wanting!
Everyone has some weakness and it will be exposed under trying circumstances. It is in the journey that we can find fulfillment and trials are part of it - siva
1 person likes this
