Monday, 5 March 2018

The Way of trees is a silent Way (Ōbaku and Rinzai)

A selection from R.H. Blyth:

When Rinzai was still with Ōbaku, he was one day planting pine-trees, and Ōbaku asked him, “Why are you planting such a lot of trees deep in this mountain?” Rinzai replied, “First, to improve the view from the temple gate; second, to be a model and a guide to after-generations.” When he had finished speaking, he struck the ground once with his spade, and said, “Phew!” Ōbaku said, “You will make Zen flourish greatly!”

kphoover comment: not every Zen exchange is a battle of egos



Submitted March 06, 2018 at 02:27AM by kphoover http://ift.tt/2FiGJU7

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