A Zen story
The master Bankei's talks were attended not only by Zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras nor indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words were spoken directly from his heart to the hearts of his listeners.
His large audiences angered a priest of the Nichiren sect. The self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to debate with Bankei.
"Hey, Zen teacher!" he called out. "Wait a minute. Whoever respects you will obey what you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?"
His large audiences angered a priest of the Nichiren sect. The self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to debate with Bankei.
"Hey, Zen teacher!" he called out. "Wait a minute. Whoever respects you will obey what you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?"
He went to the Master and challenged him. The challenge came from his self centered mind.
The Master is not at for gaining respect, he does not need it. What he wants is the freedom, love and compassion to develop from those attracted towards him. Master's peace and strength of mind and heart is least affected by any disrespect shown to them. He remains cool, that is the strength that a master carries.
Now here was a challenge thrown with disrespect shown towards the master.
"Come up beside me and I will show you," said Bankei.
Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to the teacher.
The priest blinded by his arrogance and the ambition to win over the Master's audience pushes his way from the crowd. The ambition to get back his lost prestige, makes him push from the crowd. No respect or love for them flows through him, hence the pushing. Pushing his way through the mere crowd for his glory.
Bankei smiled. "Come over to my left side."
The Master smiles at him. Looking at the arrogance and disrespect shown towards him and individuals connected with him does not break the strength and silence and smile of His heart.
And very softly he told him, “come over to his left side.”
The priest obeyed but was not at all aware of it. His mind was crowded with the thoughts and feelings of defeating the Master. To show to people and himself that he did not obey the master and was not a part of herd.
"No," said Bankei, "we may talk better if you are on the right side. Step over here."
So naturally and coolly the master asked him to step over on the other side where he was sitting. The master knew what he was doing and the proud priest totally unaware and blinded with pride was following what master asked him to do.
The priest proudly stepped over to the right.
"You see," observed Bankei, "you are obeying me and I think you are a very gentle person. Now sit down and listen."
The 2 important messages here:
1. The master’s gestures did not show that any challenge was faced. Unperturbed he pointed to the priest that he had been obeying him. There was no need of scholarly talks.
2. Regardless of all the pride and arrogance shown by the priest, Master pointed him out the gentle quality in him that obeyed.
The Master is not at for gaining respect, he does not need it. What he wants is the freedom, love and compassion to develop from those attracted towards him. Master's peace and strength of mind and heart is least affected by any disrespect shown to them. He remains cool, that is the strength that a master carries.
Now here was a challenge thrown with disrespect shown towards the master.
"Come up beside me and I will show you," said Bankei.
Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to the teacher.
The priest blinded by his arrogance and the ambition to win over the Master's audience pushes his way from the crowd. The ambition to get back his lost prestige, makes him push from the crowd. No respect or love for them flows through him, hence the pushing. Pushing his way through the mere crowd for his glory.
Bankei smiled. "Come over to my left side."
The Master smiles at him. Looking at the arrogance and disrespect shown towards him and individuals connected with him does not break the strength and silence and smile of His heart.
And very softly he told him, “come over to his left side.”
The priest obeyed but was not at all aware of it. His mind was crowded with the thoughts and feelings of defeating the Master. To show to people and himself that he did not obey the master and was not a part of herd.
"No," said Bankei, "we may talk better if you are on the right side. Step over here."
So naturally and coolly the master asked him to step over on the other side where he was sitting. The master knew what he was doing and the proud priest totally unaware and blinded with pride was following what master asked him to do.
The priest proudly stepped over to the right.
"You see," observed Bankei, "you are obeying me and I think you are a very gentle person. Now sit down and listen."
The 2 important messages here:
1. The master’s gestures did not show that any challenge was faced. Unperturbed he pointed to the priest that he had been obeying him. There was no need of scholarly talks.
2. Regardless of all the pride and arrogance shown by the priest, Master pointed him out the gentle quality in him that obeyed.
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