This Old Case

The Master said: In the old days the Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty received the enlightened teacher Bodhidharma with full ceremony.

Then he asked: “What is the highest meaning of the holy truths?”

Bodhidharma said: ”Empty, without holiness.”

The Emperor asked: ”Who is the one facing me?”

Bodhidharma said: ”I don’t know.”

This is the model of the first communication of the message of Zen in the eastern lands. Today the king of our country has invited me, a minor monk, to talk about the vehicle of the Zeb school.

I salute His Imperial Majesty, Her Imperial Majesty, the Imperial Crown Prince above, the great assembly of humans and devas in between, and the commoners below, for bestowing the great gift of the Dharna.

I have not said a word, and Their Majesties have not asked a word. Has it been the same as or different from the questions and answers between Emperor Wu and Bodhidharma?

If you can tell, I’ll allow you one eye. If you cannot tell, listen to a verse:

The High ancient’s voice is closest

Too bad the season is spring when the blossoms fall

I urge you to drain another cup of wine

At the gate where the sun rises in the west,

there are no old acquaintances

---

This old case everyone’s heard is dusted off once again! But...who can say so much as a word to cut off the old Patriarch’s head?

Even if you can, still, it’s just a single eye.

(Not worth much.)

Submitted October 04, 2020 at 11:42PM by ThatKir https://ift.tt/34pGTXu