From the famous cases page.
Master Shuilao of Hongzhou, on his first visit to Mazu, asked, "What is the most essential meaning of Bodhidharma's coming from the West?" "Show reverence," said Mazu. As soon as Shuilao bowed, Mazu kicked him over. Shuilao was thoroughly enlightened. He stood up, clapped his hands, and bellowed out laughing, "How wonderful! How wonderful! A hundred thousand samadhis and the most mysterious teachings I've seen their root in the tip of a single strand of hair!" He made obeisance and took his leave. Some time later, he declared to his monks, "Ever since I took that kick from Master Ma, and even now, I haven't stopped laughing."
Showing reverence within the Zen tradition consists of Zen Masters overturning the fixed understanding of reality by outsiders, the bowing of Shuilao was overturned by a kick. This type of direct engagement runs at odds of anyone trying to sell a church they call Buddhism with ritual sitting as a practice.
Shuilao finds the overturning of his understanding to be hilarious. How many can say the same?
Submitted February 14, 2023 at 11:47PM by ThatKir https://ift.tt/ijEfsTA
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