A Zen Story
November 13th 2006 15:00
This story illustrates how the Fourth Patriarch, Master Daoxin, relates the true purpose of Zen practice to his student, Lanron. Lanron practised 'budaodan', a method of Zen practice wher one sits in meditation all the time and never lies down to sleep, even at night.
One evening, Lanron sat meditating on a stone bench. Master Daoxin came and lay down to sleep beside him. After daybreak, Lanron said to his master, "Sifu, Last night you slept so well! You snored so earth-shakingly loud that I could barely remain sitting without falling off the bench!"
Master Daoxin replied, "What are you saying? I couldn't sleep at all last night!"
Lanron said, "Sifu, How can you say that when I heard you snoring so loudly?How is that not sleeping?"
Master Daoxin replied, "If I were sleeping, then how could I have heard the two fleas fighting on your body? One of them fell to the ground and broke its leg. It whined constantly from the pain and kept me up all night!"
Lanron said, "How is that possible? I sat here awake all night and didn't hear a thing. How is it that you snored all night, and yet you claim to have heard all that?"
Master Daoxin said, "Why dont you take a look if you dont believe me?"
Lanron looked under the stone bench and sure enough found a dead flea with a broken leg.
One evening, Lanron sat meditating on a stone bench. Master Daoxin came and lay down to sleep beside him. After daybreak, Lanron said to his master, "Sifu, Last night you slept so well! You snored so earth-shakingly loud that I could barely remain sitting without falling off the bench!"
Master Daoxin replied, "What are you saying? I couldn't sleep at all last night!"
Lanron said, "Sifu, How can you say that when I heard you snoring so loudly?How is that not sleeping?"
Master Daoxin replied, "If I were sleeping, then how could I have heard the two fleas fighting on your body? One of them fell to the ground and broke its leg. It whined constantly from the pain and kept me up all night!"
Lanron said, "How is that possible? I sat here awake all night and didn't hear a thing. How is it that you snored all night, and yet you claim to have heard all that?"
Master Daoxin said, "Why dont you take a look if you dont believe me?"
Lanron looked under the stone bench and sure enough found a dead flea with a broken leg.
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Comment by Damo
Comment by Ashish
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Comment by Gareth
Thanks for the comment.
I have books full of these little zen stories (they're called Koans). The classic book of Koans is called 'The Gateless Gate'. I actually got this one from a Kung Fu magazine.
Comment by Ashish
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Just wanted to ask one question.....is it belief that runs human or Its human who run believes.
Comment by Gareth
Not really, Ive done a couple of kinds of Kung Fu but thats about it. I dont really practice anymore tho, Im more of an armchair martial artist now, I was always more into the philosophy side of it all to be honest.
Thats a pretty difficult question but I wrote a blog about that not lone ago, its here. I think this sums up my opinion on that.
Thanks for the comment
Comment by Ashish
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Happy Blogging
Comment by Gareth
Thanks a lot