Rinzai went to Sambyo, who asked him where he had come from. Rinzai answered that he had come from Obaku. Sambyo said, “What did Obaku have to say?” Rinzai said, “Last night the golden bull vanished in the dark, and no trace of it has been seen since.” Sambyo said, “The autumn wind blows on the flute of jade. Who is it that understands such music?” Rinzai said, “Having passed ten thousand barriers, he dwells not even in the deep blue sky.” Sambyo remarked, “You are getting too high with this.” Rinzai said, “The dragon gave birth to the golden phoenix, The lapis lazuli breaks into sparkling radiance.” Sambyo said, “Sit down and have some tea,” and then asked again, “Where have you been lately?” Rinzai said, “At Ryoko’s.” Sambyo asked, “And how is Ryoko these days?” The master left.
Commentary:
Rinzai responded to Sambyo’s question by revealing the true-Self through the words ‘Last night the golden bull vanished in the dark, and no trace of it has been seen since’. ‘The golden bull’ implies the true-Self, and ‘no trace of it has since been seen’ means that the true-Self is formless and that he is not deluded by its illusion. Sambyo’s words ‘The autumn wind blows on the flute of jade. Who is it that understands such music?’ means that he wonders who can grasp Rinzai’s answer even though Rinzai made an answer as beautiful music. Rinzai’s ‘Having passed ten thousand barriers, he dwells not even in the deep blue sky’ means that one who is neither deluded by ten thousand words and forms nor stays even in the form of Emptiness that is imagined being beautiful like the deep blue sky can understand his answer. Sambyo’s ‘You are getting too high with this’ means ‘You reveal the true-Self too delicately for it to be discerned’. Rinzai’s ‘The dragon gave birth to the golden phoenix, The lapis lazuli breaks into sparkling radiance’ implies that when one has become one with the true-Self, whatever one does and says is the function of the true-Self. Rinzai’s answer ‘At Ryoko’s’ to Sambyo’s question ‘Where have you been lately?’ implies the true-Self that we have never left and can’t be separated from. That is why Rinzai answered by revealing the true-Self through leaving when he was asked about Ryoko.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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