What Are You Doing? What Are You Saying?
Traditionally, a master devises his teaching to a select pupil, entitling them to pass the teching on to the next generation. Of course Zen should be imparted in this way, from heart to heart. The one who received such a gift would keep the matter hidden, only revealing through his mastery and not by pronouncement. Never would a teacher claim "I am the successor of So-and-so." Making such a claim would disprove it.
The Zen master Mui-jian had only one successor. His name was Shuja. After Shuja had completed his study of Zen, Mui-jian summoned him. "I am getting on in years," he said, "and you, Shuja, are the only one who will carry on my teaching. Here is a book that has been passed down from master to master for generations. I have added many annotations. The book is very dear, and I am giving it to you to represent your carrying of my legacy."
"If the book is such an important thing, you should keep it," Shuja replied. "I received your Zen without it and am content."
"I know." said Mui-jian. "Still, this work has been carried from master to master for generations, so you should take it as a symbol of having received my teaching. Here."
The two were speaking before a hearth. The instant Shuja felt the book in his hands he thrust it into the flames.
Mui-jian, in uncharacteristic anger, yelled: "What are you doing?"
Shuja yelled back: "What are you saying?"
dcj commentary: Shuja didn't have the same level of attachment to the book.
This story reminds me of the background story line to the old David Carradine "Kung Fu" series (which I absolutely adored). In an early scene, Kwai Chang Caine's teacher Master Po is talking about ambition and how the sage must be free of ambition. Caine asks, "Have you no ambition then Master Po?" to which he answers that he wishes to make a pilgrimage to the Forbidden City (I think) on a certain astrologically propitious date in the future. Caine points out that this is not much as ambitions go, to which Master Po replies, "It is ambition nonetheless. Who among us is without flaw?"
In a later scene, Caine meets Master Po on the road to fulfill his ambition. It is there that Po is killed at the hands of the Imperial Guard. Caine then kills the royal nephew and is forced to flee to America. Thus, the affect of Po's one tiny ambition ripples out, creating disharmony to many.
Of course, this was just a TV show, but I think it makes the point quite aptly.
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Interesting, and very similar. I think that people are sort of loose federations of personas, that gradually shift over time. In that frame, any practice or even enlightenment fades unless it is renewed continually.
I think its interesting how these stories often touch on the master who is revealed to still be holding on to something.
Who among us is without flaw?
Cheers,
@dcj
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Good post
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