From Blythe's translation:
Sozan and Poor Seizei:
A monk, named Seizei by name, said to Sozan, “I am a poor destitute monk. I beg you to bestow upon me the alms of salvation.” Sozan Said, “Acarya* Seizei!” “Yes, Sir?” replied Seizei. Sozan said, “Someone has drunk three bowls of the wine of Haku of Seigen, but asserts that he has not yet moistened his lips.”
*Acarya means teacher, master, and is here a term of respect.
The Commentary:
Seizei is obsequious, but what is his real state of mind? Sozan, with his Buddha-eye, sees into the recesses of it, and understands the visitor’s meaning. But however this may be so, just tell me, where and why does Acarya Seizei drink this wine?
The Verse:
His poverty is like Hanzen’s;
His spirit like that of Kou.
Though he has no commercial system,
They are quarreling about riches.
Me:
What is Seizei's real state of mind? Seizei presented himself as destitute but responded to a title implying a richness. Moreover after Seizei answered when addressed as "Acarya Seizei," Sozan went on to refer to "someone" as rich instead. I think an implication here is that Seizei doesn't know who or what he is.
Where and why does he drink this wine? Maybe the moment he answered "yes sir" to "Acarya Seizei." In that moment he is living out his real state of mind, that of someone who doesn't know who or what he is--which is someone who doesn't know who or what he is.
What can I do with this? Find opprtunities to inquire what self-conception is implicit in requests I make, and how lack of self-conception might find the requests not only irrelevant but also already fulfilled. This is homework and therapy.
Submitted January 08, 2020 at 07:09PM by Porn_Steal https://ift.tt/2QVoOd3
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