Zen short Story: Humility sometimes has the edge of a sword

Yes, thanks. That's a nicely summarised account of my story. The Zen Master, like most Zen master's, knew how to bring the best out of the Emperor too, and he drew the best out of him, in the best way, so that the Emperor, would see the light of enlightenment, rather than still being blinded by his own light, that he was previously arrogantly thinking was brighter than all of the other lights around him.

Yes, thanks. We should not act like a bully, but nor should we cower away as a coward either. The Zen master answered with a statement of truth that hit home in the Emperor, and allowed him to see his position for really what it was, a bully. At least, he had the gumption to back down, and to accept that he was wrong here, to act like that. He showed some humility here then too.

Thanks. Yes, having a humble heart is indeed a great gift, and a great benefit to have in our lives too.

@innertalks I so want be an humble soul. Great post.

@popciclecold I would like to be always able to stay humble now too, but from a position of strength, though, rather than one of afraidness, as I am now. I never argue back, because I do not want to make any waves, and that is often seen as being humble, but it more stems from my wimpiness. I would like to have that "Rolls Royce motor" in a "Mini Minor body", for example (to use cars, as an example). In that way, I would be myself, but not parading that self, proudly out to others.

Yes, the Zen master's retort cut through the ego of the Emperor's mind, and reached into the Emperor's heart, and found him at home there too. It was a step forwards and upwards for the Emperor, after this encounter, as all such encounters usually are when we meet up with a Zen master, and are open to receiving the truth into us like that.

@Shiva49 Yes, Zen masters often stake their lives like that. I love this old Zen story too. Heaven and Hell: A Zen story to remember A tough, aggressively arrogant samurai warrior once approached Hakuin, the Zen master, who was deeply immersed in his meditation. Impatiently, and rudely, the proudly arrogant samurai warrior interrupted the master, and demanded in his roughly loudest of voices, "Tell me, old man. Do heaven and hell really exist?" Hakuin opened his eyes, looked at the samurai, deeply into his eyes, and replied rather dismissively. "Why should I answer such a profound question to a shabby, disgusting, callously brutal warrior type like you?" "An annoying crawling fly like you, I normally just swat away." "Do you think that I should give you answers that need to be earned?" "Go away. I cannot help you. I have no time to waste on fools, or on answering such stupidly infantile questions.” And with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the warrior. The angry samurai could not take these insults. Enraged beyond boiling point, he drew his sword, and raised it with the intention now to immediately slice the master's head off, in one fell swoop. Looking directly into the samurai’s bloodshot eyes, Hakuin, the Zen master, softly, and calmly, said, "And so, opens the doors of hell." The samurai froze in his place. Although the words were so silently, quietly spoken, that he had hardly heard them with his ears, due to his deafening rage going on in his head, his heart had heard them, before his sword had struck. He suddenly grasped, and fully understood what the Zen master was saying. His demeanour changed. His face softened. His anger had had him in its hell. Anger controlled him, and prevented him from being true to himself, and to life. He was a murdering thug, and he was an inhabitant of hell, already. The samurai’s eyes wept tears of insight, of Zen truth. He put his sword down. He bowed deeply, reverently, respectfully, to the Zen master. "And now, you have now entered Heaven." the Zen master, just as quietly, then said to the samurai. The Zen master gently acknowledged him then, with a delicately, deliciously, all-knowing smile, "And that’s the difference between hell and heaven. They are both states that can exist within ourselves, depending on whether we are living from love, or from our own ego-self."

@innertalks Power through wealth and position are fleeting - they come through one door and out the other. It is how we lead our lives and touch others' that really matter. The Zen master drove home the point loud and clear but did stake his life in the bargain! The emperor looks enlightened going by the image, one of a kind!

Yes, without discernment, we are governed by our reactive responses, and emotional outbursts. Discernment, is a good habit to develop; it encourages us not to be rash, but considered, and non-judgemental too.

Yes, a good description. Being humble keeps all doors open for us too. Nobody slams a door on a truly humble person

@Nakitakona Yes, patience is part of humility too.

@innertalks You're absolutely right. He's not quick to anger.