THEMEDITATION HALL AND THEMONKS LIFE
Strippedofalltrumperies,intellectualorothenvise,onereturnsto
one'sownnativenakedness.EachslapdealtbyShojustripped
Hakuinofhisillusionsandinsincerities.Infact,weareallliving
undermanycasingsofillusionsandinsinceritieswhichreallyhave
nothingtodowithourinmostSelf.ToreachthisinmostSelf,
therefore, whereby thedisciple gainsreal knowledge ofZen,
themasteroftenresortstomethodsseeminglyinhuman;indeed,
farfrombeingkindheartedtosaytheleast.
InthelifeoftheZendothereisnofixedf>eriodofgraduationasinpubliceducation.Withsome,graduationmaynottakeplace
aftertwentyyearsoflivingthere,butwithordinaryabilitiesand
agoodamountofperseveranceandindefadgabilityamonkis
abletoprobewithinaspaceoftenyearsintoeveryintricacyofthe
teachingsofZen.TopractisetheprinciplesofZen,however,in
everymomentoflife—thatis,tobecomefullysaturatedinthe
spiritofZen—isanothermatter.Onelifemaybetooshortforit
;foritissaidthatevenSakyamuniandMaitreyathemselvesare
yetinthemidstofself-training.
Tobecomeaperfecdyqualifiedmaster,amereunderstanding
ofthetruthofZenisnotsufficient.Hemustgothroughaperiod
whichisknownas"thelongmaturingofthesacredwomb".The
termmusthavecomeoriginallyfromTaoism;butinZennowa-
daysitmeans,broadlyspeaking,livingalifeharmoniouswiththe
understanding. Underthedirectionofa competentmaster a
monkmayfinally attainto a thorough knowledge ofalJ the
mysteriesofZen,butitwillbemoreorlessintellectualthough
inthehighestpossiblesense.Themonk'slife,inandout,must
growinperfectunisonwiththisattainment.Todothisafurther
self-trainingisnecessary,forwhathehasgainedintheZendois
afterallonlythepointingofthefingerinthedirectionwherehis
utmost efforts mustfurtherbe putforth. But itis no longer
imjjcrativeforhimtoremainintheZendo;onthecontrary,his
intellectual attainmentsmustbeput ontrial bycoming into
actualcontactwiththeworld.Therearenoprescribedrulesfor
this"maturing".Eachmustactunderhisowndiscretionashe
meetswiththeaccidental circumstancesoflife.Hemayretire
intothemountainsandliveasasolitaryhermit,orhemaycome
outintothemarketandbeanactiveparticipantinailtheaflfairs