An introduction to Zen Buddhism

THE MEDITATION HALL AND THE MONKSLIFE

aseverunlesshehasopenedaneyetothetruthofZen.This

inscrutabilityisnotnecessarilycausedbytheabstrusenatureof

thebooks,butbecausethelistener'smindisstillencrustedwith

thehardsheUofrelativeconsciousness.

Duringthesesshin,besidesthelectures,themonkshavewhat

iskno\s'nas"sanzen".Todosanzenistogotothemasterand

presenttheirv-iewsonthekoantheyhaveforthemaster'scritical

examination. Inthedayswhenagreatsesshinisnotgoingon,

sanzenwillprobablytakeplacetwiceaday,butduringthespecial
timeof"thoughtcollection"—whichisthemeaningoisesshin—

themonkhas toseethemasterfourorfivetimesaday.This

seeing the master does not take place openly; themonk is

required togo individually to themaster'sroom, where the

interview takes placein a most formal and solemn manner.

Whenthemonkisabouttocrossthethreshold,hemakesthree

bows,eachtimeprostratinghimselfonthefloor;henowenters

theroomkeepinghishandspalmtopalminfrontofhischest,

andwhenhecomesnearthemasterhekneelsdownandmakes

stillanotherprostration.Thisceremonyover,nofurtherworldly

considerationsareentertained;ifnecessaryfromtheZenpoint

ofview,evenblowsmaybeexchanged.Tomakemanifestthe

truthofZenwithallsincerityofheartisthesoleconsideration

;

everything else receivesonly subordinate attention. Thepre-

sentationover,themonkretiresfromtheroomwiththesame

elaborateceremonywithwhichheentered.Thisexercisemaybe

verytryingonthemaster,foronesanzenforthirtymonkswill

occupymorethananhourandahalfofmostexactingattention.

Absolute confidence is placed in themaster so farashis

understandingofZengoes,butifthemonkthinkshehassufficient

reasonfordoubtingthemaster'sabilityhemaysettleitwithhim

personallyat the time ofsanzen. This presentation ofviews,

therefore,isnoidleplayforeithermasterormonk.Itis,indeed,

amostseriousaffair,andbecauseitissothisdisciplineofZenhas

greatmoralvalue.Toillustratethisletusconsideranincident

fromthelifeofHakuin,thefounderofmodemRinzaiZenin

Japan.

OnesummereveningwhenHakuincametopresenthisview

tohisoldmaster,whowascoolinghimselfontheveranda,the

master rudely said, "Stuffandnonsense!" Hakuin repeated