On the way to see Horin Rinzai met an old woman, who asked him, “Where are you going?” “To Horin,” replied Rinzai. The old woman informed him, “Horin is away just now, so you cannot visit him.” “Where did he go?”, asked Rinzai. But the old woman was already walking off. Rinzai called after her and, when she turned around, he hit her.
Commentary:
We should be aware that the old woman was testing Rinzai to see whether he had the wisdom to discern the true-Self that is the essence of Horin without being deluded by the words ‘Horin is away just now, so you cannot visit him’. When Rinzai asked her where he had gone, she showed the true-Self by walking off. Grasping the woman’s meaning, Rinzai called after her and hit her when she returned as a token of appreciating her intention.
Student: “Was Horin in the temple, or was he actually away as the woman said?”
Master: “Why do you dismiss the woman’s kindness?”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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