On 12/9/2012 11:10 AM, Joe wrote:
There are confirmatory signs which a teacher can recognize
I find myself more interested in the occasions when a /teacher/ emits a sign of /their/ illumination. Might you, or Bill, share with us some instances you have encountered in your time immersed in the American zen scene? You have mentioned Bernie whatshisname and Aitken, for instance; what did they do or say that stands out in your memory? Of course, I don't mean to confine such observations to them, and what did they or their heirs say in regard to their awards of inka?
Just to give you an idea of the kind of thing I am thinking about: you recall that old Chinese zenji who had the monastery gate slammed shut on him, when he was a wandering monk, breaking his leg (which, as I recall, induced his 'first glimpse of emptiness') ... what grandfatherly kindness! I can't help but wonder (bearing in mind that the gate was forced shut against many monks who did NOT have kensho) if that was a happy accident, rather than an example of the resident master's deep wisdom/compassion (would /he/ have been the one to close the gate; I doubt it) or an example of his understandable decision NOT to 'care for and share with' every wandering rice-bag who wanted to live off the charity of those who supported the monastery.
RAF
