One day Rinzai was sitting in front of the monks’ hall. Seeing Obaku come, he closed his eyes as if asleep. Obaku, as if frightened, returned to his quarters. Rinzai followed him there and bowed his apology. The head monk was present, attending Obaku in his quarters. Obaku remarked, “Although this is just a young monk, he understands this great matter.” The head monk said, “Old Venerable, why do you testify to his future life even though his heels haven’t touched the ground?” Obaku slapped himself across the mouth. The head monk said, “If you understand, it is all right.”
Commentary:
Seeing Obaku come, Rinzai revealed the true-Self by closing his eyes as if asleep. Sensing his intention, Obaku responded by showing the true-Self through pretending to be frightened. Rinzai bowed his apology for having tested Obaku. Then, Obaku tested the head monk to see whether he was deluded by words or not by saying, ‘he understands this great matter’. The head monk was wise enough to reply, “Why do you testify to his future life even though his heels haven’t touched the ground?” This means, “If you see Rinzai as he is, he was not born nor does he have any form. What do you address as ‘this’, ‘a young monk’ and ‘he’?” Obaku approved the head monk’s comment while pretending to admit his mistake of making a discrimination with his mouth by slapping himself across the mouth.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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