Linji and his shouting cult

The master took the high seat in the hall. A monk came forward and bowed. The master gave a shout.
“Venerable priest,” said the monk, “you’d better not try to spy on me.”
“Tell me what you’ve arrived upon,” the master said.
The monk shouted.
Another monk asked, “What about the cardinal principle of the buddha-dharma?”
The master shouted. The monk bowed.
“Do you say that was a good shout?” asked the master.
“The bandit in the grass has met complete defeat,” returned the monk.
“What’s my offense?” asked the master.
“It won’t be pardoned a second time,” replied the monk. The master gave a shout.

That same day the head monks of the two halls had met and simultaneously given shouts.
A monk asked the master, “Was there a guest and a host?”
“Guest and host were obvious,” replied the master.
He continued, “If you of the assembly want to understand the ‘guest and host’ that I speak of, ask the two head monks of the halls.” Then the master stepped down.

Here we have the cult leader taking the place of reverence so his subservient can approach below. After ceremonial bowing the cult leader shouts. The subservient shout, the leader shouts. Cult followers are walking down the halls shouting at each other. And if you think they're just normal shouts, well here's linji on the 4 kinds of shouts:

The master asked a monk, “Sometimes a shout is like the Diamond Sword of the Vajra King; sometimes a shout is like the golden-haired lion crouching on the ground; sometimes a shout is like a weed-tipped fishing pole; some- times a shout doesn’t function as a shout. How do you understand this?” The monk hesitated. The master gave a shout.

Linji even goes so far as to hit a nun:

The master asked a nun, “Well-come or ill-come?” The nun shouted. “Go on, go on, speak!” cried the master, taking up his stick. Again the nun shouted. The master hit her.

The cult leader mocks and threatens a nun after shouting at hus advances. She shouts again so he finally hits her.

Submitted July 11, 2017 at 11:34PM by Hip2BS http://ift.tt/2tK810m