An introduction to Zen Buddhism

ANINTRODUCTION TO ZENBUDDHISM

Anothertimehewasasked,"Whydocsthisholyplaceattract

dust?" Towhich his reply was, "There, anotherparticle of

dust!"
TherewasafamousstonebridgeatJoshu'smonastery,which

wasoneofthesightsthere.Astrangermonkinquiredofhim,

"Ihaveforsometimeheardofyourfamousstonebridge,but
Isecnosuchthinghere,onlyaplank."

SaidJoshu,"Yousecaplankanddon'tsecastonebridge,"

"Wherethenisthestonebridge?"

"Youhavejustcrossedit,"wasthepromptreply.

AtanothertimewhenJoshuwasaskedaboutthissamestone

bridge,hisanswerwas,"Horsespassit,peoplepassit,everybody

passesit."

Inthesedialoguesdoweonlysectrivialtalksaboutordinary

thingsoflifeandnature?Istherenothingspiritual,conduciveto

theenlightenmentofthereligioussoul?IsZen,then,toopracti-

cal,toocommonplace?Isittooabruptadescentfromtheheight

oftranscendentalismtoeverydaythings?Well,italldependson

howyoulookatit.Astickofincenseisburningonmydesk.Isthis

atrivialaffair?AnearthquakeshakestheearthandMt. Fuji

topplesover.Isthisagreatevent?Yes,solongastheconception

ofspaceremains. Butarewereallylivingconfinedvkithinan

enclosurecalledspace?Zenwouldansweratonce:"Withthe

burning of an incense-stick thewhole triloka bums. Within

Joshu'scupofteathemermaidsaredancing."Solongasoneis

consciousofspaceandtime,Zenwillkeeparespectabledistance

fix>myou;yourholidayisill-sjjcnt,yoursleepisdisturbed,and

yourwholelifeisafailure.

ReadthefollowingdialoguebetweenYisan(Kuei-shan)and

Kyozan(Yang-shan).Attheendofhissummer'ssojournKyozan

paidavisittoYisan,whosaid,"Ihavenotseenyouthiswhole

summercoiningupthisway;whathaveyoubeendoingdown

there?"

RepliedKyozan,"DownthereIhavebeentillingapieceof

groundandfinishedsowingmilletseeds."

Yisansaid,"Thenyouhavenotwastedyoursummer."

ItwasnowKyozan'sturntoaskYisanastohisdoingsduring

thepastsummer,andheasked,"Howdidyoupassyoursummer?"

"Onemealadayandagoodsleepatnight"