This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.
Archives
- March 2010 (6)
- February 2010 (22)
- January 2010 (16)
- December 2009 (16)
- November 2009 (33)
- October 2009 (36)
- September 2009 (28)
- August 2009 (60)
- July 2009 (28)
- June 2009 (20)
- May 2009 (17)
- April 2009 (16)
- March 2009 (16)
- February 2009 (15)
- January 2009 (9)
- December 2008 (11)
- November 2008 (15)
- October 2008 (9)
- September 2008 (20)
- August 2008 (26)
- July 2008 (9)
- May 2008 (1)
- April 2008 (3)
- February 2008 (5)
- January 2008 (2)
- December 2007 (3)
- November 2007 (3)
- October 2007 (3)
- September 2007 (4)
- August 2007 (14)
What is the Essence of Buddhism?
At the High Seat, a monk asked: “What is the essence of Buddhism?”
The master raised his fly-whisk
The monk gave a Katsu.
The master hit him.
Again, a monk asked: “What is the essence of Buddhism?”
The master raised his fly-whisk again.
The monk gave a Katsu.
The master also gave a Katsu.
The monk hesitated.
The master hit him.
The master then said: “Monks, some do not shirk losing body and life for the Dharma. As for me, I spent twenty years with my late master Obaku. Three times I asked him on the essence of Buddhism, and three times he kindly beat me. It was as if he had caressed me with a branch of fragrant sage. Now I feel like tasting a sound beating again; who can give it to me?”
A monk stepped forward and said, “I can.”
The master took up his stick and handed it to him.
The monk hesitated to take hold of it.
Then the master hit him.
taken from (attention: link leads to a large PDF file) The Teachings of Rinzai