Master Wuzu Yan said to an assembly,
Yesterday I went into the city and saw a puppet show. I couldn't help approaching to watch, and saw some exceptionally fine looking, others unbearably ugly. Having seen them individually moving around, walking and sitting, blue, yellow, red, and white, when I looked closely it turned out there was someone behind a blue curtain. Unable to restrain myself, I asked the puppet master's name. He said, "Old monk, just watch - why ask for a name?" At this remark of his, I simply had no reply, no reason to give. Can anyone speak for me? Yesterday I lost my reserve over there; today I pay back the principal here.
So there’s a teaching in all of this, right? Let’s assume that there is for a second.
A Zen Master relating how he is unable to answer a question following one that he couldn’t help but ask. That stands out in the zen records…it isn’t everyday that a Zen Master can’t answer a question.
I don’t think he is discouraging people to ask questions, but that there are questions that merely “ask for a name” instead of intimately meet mind with mind. Maybe.
Some Zen Maater said something to the effect of “Don’t question haphazardly.” And Huangbo berates his community for being gobblers of dregs.
The theme of how Zen Masters interact with people outside the zen community came up recently. I don’t think outside the community, it is possible to distinguish Zen Master from non unless you ask them a few questions. But if you are out in the community, you’ve got to meet people in some context or another and demonstrate your Huangbo-compassion.
What does he mean by saying that he lost the principle yesterday and is paying back the reserve today?
Submitted April 28, 2023 at 11:44PM by ThatKir https://ift.tt/U5QDts3
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