A monk asked Zhaozhou, " 'The culmination of the Way is without difficulty—it is only avoiding picking and choosing.' What is picking and choosing?"
Zhaozhou said, "In the heavens above, and earth below, I alone am honoured."1
"This is still picking and choosing."
"Ignorant peasant! Where is there picking and choosing?!"
The monk was speechless.
[0298a21] 趙州。因僧問。至道無難。唯嫌揀擇。如何是不揀擇。師曰。天上天下。唯吾獨尊。曰此猶是揀擇。師曰。田厙奴。甚處是揀擇。僧無語。
'Round and 'round, the autumn moon traces the heart in the sky,
And before there's variety, there's the first circuit—
Toads enter the cave with no way out,
But the oppressive dharma heaven's unsteady.
[0298a24] 團團秋月印天心。是物前頭有一輪。入穴蝦蟆無出路。却冤天道不平勻。
1 The words of baby Sakyamuni Buddha, spoken immediately after he was born and had taken seven steps.
...
As a result of asking chatgpt about 田厙奴, I ended up having a long conversation with the AI about using rudeness and insults to instruct students. It was interesting to me that it was hesitant to translate the line as "ignorant peasant" (stupid oaf trans. Cleary) when I explained the context that a teacher was admonishing a student. It was also compelled to remind me at every junction that educational environments are most effective in spaces that are encouraging, and the most effective teachers have flexible programs of instructions to aid students who might be having difficulty. This is apparently the general consensus of educational researchers and professionals.
I wasn't going to weigh in either way, but it was curious to me that the AI had a strong opinion on the subject, and was unwilling to fathom a different scenario where the information it was providing wasn't appropriate. It assures me that it isn't because it is programmed not to be insulting.
Submitted April 03, 2023 at 12:02AM by surupamaerl2 https://ift.tt/el8jEq0
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