Rinzai was about to die. Sitting up, he said, “After my death do not allow my True Dharma Eye to perish.”
Sansho burst out, “How could your True Dharma Eye perish?” Rinzai asked, “What then will you say when in the future people put questions to you?” Sansho gave a Katsu. “Who could know that my True Dharma Eye would perish through this blind ass,” said the master, and revealed his Nirvana.
Commentary:
Sansho’s words ‘How could your True Dharma Eye perish?’ means that his True Dharma Eye symbolising the true-Self can never perish. Then, in order to confirm Sansho’s enlightenment, Rinzai asked, “What then will you say when in the future people put questions to you?” Sansho, sensing Rinzai’s meaning to the core, gave a Katsu. Very satisfied with Sansho’s answer, Rinzai left his final beautiful words by saying, “Who could know that my True Dharma Eye would perish through this blind ass?” He approved Sansho’s enlightenment by referring to him as a blind ass, which meant that Sansho was so free from making a discrimination that he was above being deluded by the illusion of Rinzai’s True Dharma Eye. This is why he said that his True Dharma Eye would perish through Sansho. The true-Self is eternal and formless everywhere all the time. It cannot be either attained or lost. If you, attached to its illusion, try to attain and keep it, that is to be deluded by the illusion of the true-Self. This is to degrade Buddhism to superstition. This is why ancient masters would say, “Kill the Buddha if you see him.”
Student: “Rinzai told Sansho not to allow his True Dharma Eye to perish, and Sansho said that he wouldn’t. Why was Rinzai happy that his True Dharma Eye would perish through Sansho?”
Master: “Because making his True Dharma Eye perish is the best way to keep it.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
Zen Fools 