PRACTICALZEN
andwecannotblamethemforsothinking.Zenought,therefore,
tobepresentedJilsofromitseasy, familiar,andapproachable
side.Lifeisthebasisofallthings;apartfromitnothingcanstand.
Withallourphilosophy,withallourgrandandenhancingideas,wecannotescapelifeaswehvcit.Star-gazersarestillwalking
onthesolidearth.Whatis Zen, then, when made accessibleto everybody?
Joshu(Chao-chou)onceaskedanewmonk:
"Haveyoueverbeenherebefore?"
Themonkanswered,"Yes,sir,Ihave."
Thereuponthemastersaid,"Haveacupoftea."
Lateronanothermonkcameandheaskedhimthesame
question,"Haveyoueverbeenhere?"
Thistimetheanswerwasquiteopposite."Ihaveneverbeen
here,sir."
Theoldmaster,however,answeredjustasbefore,"Have
acupoftea."
AfterwardstheInju(themanagingmonkofthemonastery)
askedthemaster,"Howisitthatyoumakethesameofferingof
acupofteanomatterwhatamonk'sreplyis?"
Theoldmastercalledout,"OInju!"whoatoncerephed,
"Yes,master."WhereuponJoshusaid,"Haveacupoftea."
Joshu(778—897)wasoneofthemostastuteZenmastersduring
theT*angdynasty,andthedevelopmentofZeninChinaowes
muchtohim. Heissaidtohave travelledevenwhenhewas
eightyyearsofage, hisobjectbeingto perfecthimselfin the
masteryofZen.Hediedinhisonehimdredandtwentiethyear.
Whateverutterances hemade werelikejewels that sparkled
brighdy.Itwassaidofhim,"HisZenshinesuponhislips."A
monkwhowasstillanovicecametohimandaskedtobein-
structedinZen.
Joshusaid,"Haveyounothadyourbreakfastyet?"
Repliedthemonk,"Yes,sir,Ihavehaditalready."
"Ifso,washyourdishes."Thisremarkbytheoldmaster
openedthenovice'seyetothetruthofZen.
Onedayhewassweepingthegroundwhenamonkaskedhim,
"Youaresuchawiseandholymaster;tellmehowitisthatdust
everaccumulatesinyouryard."
Saidthemaster,"Itcomesfromtheoutside."