Once a monastic asked Mayoku during a Dharma talk, “I know Buddhist doctrines roughly, but what is it that is transmitted beyond the doctrinal teaching?” Mayoku descended from the high seat, moved his cane around himself, stood on tiptoe and said, “Do you know?” The monastic couldn’t answer, and Mayoku hit him with his cane.
Student: “What did Mayoku mean by his strange behaviour?”
Master: “He materialised the doctrinal teaching before the monastic.”
Student: “Why didn’t the monastic who knew the doctrinal teaching grasp it?”
Master: “Because he didn’t know the doctrinal teaching.”
Commentary:
The doctrinal teaching that is different from the teaching beyond the doctrinal teaching is not Buddha’s words but Mara’s.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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