Later, Issan mentioned this story to Gyosan and asked, “Did Obaku at that time entrust the transmission to Rinzai alone, or did he have someone else in mind?” Gyosan answered, “Yes, he had; only I do not want to tell you as it is still far ahead in the future.” Issan said, “Although this may be so, I’d still like to know. Please tell me.” Gyosan said, “A man will head South, where his orders will be put into force in Go and Etsu (old Chinese provinces). There he will meet a great wind, and then he will stop.” (This is said to be a prophesy concerning Fuketsu, ‘Wind-Cave’ — a master in the fourth generation after Rinzai.)
Commentary:
Later, Issan mentioned this story to Gyosan, one of his disciples and asked, “Did Obaku at that time entrust the transmission to Rinzai alone, or did he have someone else in mind?” Issan is asking Gyosan if he knew that it is impossible to transmit the true-Self to someone in the same way as we do things. When Gyosan answered, “Yes, he had; only I do not want to tell you as it is still far ahead in the future” he meant, “Whatever I say is only the function of the true-Self, and it can neither be divided nor transmitted, or transferred.” When Issan said, “Although this may be so, I’d still like to know. Please tell me” he was testing Gyosan to see whether or not he could reveal the true-Self by saying what is beyond words. Sensing his master’s intention, Gyosan made a long statement, by which he meant that he was not deluded by words, no matter what he said.
Student: “How can I say what is beyond words?”
Master: “Hear what is beyond words.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
Zen Fools 