Rinzai’s refusal to bow

Rinzai came to the memorial pagoda of Bodhidharma. The incumbent asked, “Old Venerable, will your first bow be to the Buddha or to the Patriarch?” Rinzai said, “I shall bow neither to the Buddha nor to the Patriarch.”

Student: “Why didn’t Rinzai bow either to the Buddha or to the Patriarch?”

Master: “Because he couldn’t.”

Commentary:

No one can bow to oneself.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway