Wow, lots of different points of view expressed here. Maybe i should just further explain.
Hotei answered the master with real action in the moment, not an intellectualization of it. Real action in the here and now is Buddhism/Reality. Hotei could have done any number of things, as long as they were real action in the moment. I'm not looking for a spiritual "bitch fight" here. Trying to prove intellectual or Zen superiority is pointless and a waste of time. I simply wanted to see others reaction to what i consider a great story that encapsulates what Zen really is at a human level(the reletive truth as opposed to the Absolute truth). Be well, Guy --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Guy, > > > >>>Had he spoken a single word he would have failed the questions, his action > >>>in > >>>the moment spoke louder. > > > >I was simply going to ask you, "Who says?", but Edgar and ED already did > >that in > >in a round-about way. Instead, let me leave you this koan to save you > >getting > >your finger cut off at some later date ; ) > > > >Fa-yen asked the monk Hsüan-tzu why he had never asked him any questions > >aboutZen. The monk explained that he had already attained his understanding > >from > >another master. Pressed by Fa-yen for an explanation, the monk said that > >when he > >had asked his teacher, âWhat is the Buddha?â he had received the answer, > >âPing-ting Tâung-tzu comes for fire!â > >âA good answer!â said Fa-yen. âBut Iâm sure you donât understand > >it.â > >âPing-ting,â explained the monk, âis the god of fire. For him to be > >seeking fire > >is like myself, seeking the Buddha. Iâm the Buddha already, and no asking > >is > >needed.â > >âJust as I thought!â laughed Fa-yen. âYou didnât get it.â > >The monk was so offended that he left the monastery, but later repented of > >himself and returned, humbly requesting instruction. > >âYou ask me,â said Fa-yen. > >âWhat is the Buddha?â inquired the monk. > >âPing-ting Tâung-tzu comes for fire!â > Mike > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
