Master Uisan said to an assembly, “I will be reborn as a buffalo in a village down the mountain after one hundred years. Then, there will be the words ‘monastic Uisan’ written on the buffalo’s left side. If you call me monastic Uisan, what will become of the buffalo? If you call me buffalo, what will become of monastic Uisan? Tell me what you should call me.” Then, Angsan stepped forward and offered a bow.
Student: “What should we call him?”
Master: “I will call him buffalo.”
Student: “Then, what would become of monastic Uisan?”
Master: “I am more worried what will become of you.”
Commentary:
Illness becomes medicine to the wise, but medicine becomes illness to the foolish.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
Zen Fools 