Rinzai asked Takuho, “Hitherto, one used the stick, another the Katsu. Which one is nearer the truth?” Rakuho said, “Neither is near.” Rinzai said, “What is it to be near?” Rakuho gave a Katsu. Rinzai hit him.
Commentary:
Rinzai’s question is ‘if one used the stick to reveal the true-Self and another the Katsu, which revealed the true-Self better?’ Actually, he asked, “Can you see the true-Self that I am revealing now, without being deluded by words?” Rakuho’s answer ‘Neither is near’ means that he is not deluded by either choice since he is aware that both are wrong if he follows the words, but that both options are right because they are the same if he sees them as they truly are. Rinzai asked one more time, “Then, what is the true-Self?” by saying, “What is it to be near?” Rakuho responded by giving a Katsu, and Rinzai approved by hitting him.
Student: “If one uses the stick, and another the Katsu, which one is nearer the truth?”
Master: “What is near the truth is still far away from the truth.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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