Later, Issan asked Gyosan, “Why did Rinzai snatch the hoe out of Obaku’s hand?”
Gyosan said, “The robber was a wastrel, but in wisdom he prevailed over the noble man.”
Commentary:
‘The robber was a wastrel’ means that if we are deluded by the expedient behaviour that Rinzai, the robber used to reveal the true-Self, he can be taken for a wastrel who is impolite and ignorant, but that in fact, the wisdom in which he prevailed over the noble man is hidden in his behaviour.
Student: “What is the wisdom hidden in Rinzai’s behaviour?”
Master: “It is hidden in your behaviour as well.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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