Zen

Choshin’s ‘Ancestors Error’

Choshin said, “People said that the Buddha transmitted the dharma to Mahakasyapa in secret and shared his seat with him. The people attending the talk should have spat in the Buddha’s face. Because they didn’t do that, their offspring are still in calamity now.”

Student: “What is the error that these ancient people made?”

Master: “They misled their offspring into believing that the Buddha did what he hadn’t done.”

Commentary:

What is valuable cannot be either transmitted or hidden.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

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