A Zen Koan
It is said that to try and explain a Zen Koan is to defeat its purpose. Sharing what one sees in it, is however a useful practice.
Wun Luv
A Zen Koan
Once, while walking through the marketplace, Hotei was confronted by a skeptical Buddhist monk and scholar.
The monk shouted, "Ha, what is the meaning of Zen?"
Immediately, Hotei stopped walking, threw down his sack - his face became frozen - and he stood there still and silent in the bustling marketplace.
The monk, not satisfied, shouted, "What is the expression of Zen?"
Immediately, Hotei continued walking, smiling, laughing and handing out sweets to little children, just as he had been doing.
Comments
Even a master can get easily irritated by stupidity.
I have some hope then.
Beloved Heaven Admin, this is what I see from your beautiful post:
We don't intellectually have to know or discuss the theories of life and living at all. What matters is how we live our lives. The monk wanted intellectual knowledge. The master was enjoying life so much and making it sweet for others that there was no point in explaining anything. The master answered the monk's question, however, by the example he gave.
Inner stillness and outer expression of joy. How lovely ... the example is how all great teachers teach. Thank you, Gloria and Wun Luv.
And how often do we hear "the meaning was lost in the translation?"
So often, words cannot express the feeling, or the essence of the moment.
Gloria has a point, intellectual knowledge is a tiny component of life's experiences.
I forgot to add that the monk became a student to Hotei thereafter.
Ahh Wun Luv,
Did he ever pick up his sack again?