A monk asked Yunju, “What should a monastic ultimately be like?” Yunju replied, “It’s good to dwell in the mountains.” The monk immediately bowed, and Yunju said, “How do you understand this?” The monk answered, “A monastic should be unshaken like a mountain, even amidst the boundaries of good and bad, compliance and opposition, life and death.” The master immediately struck him and said, “You betray the ancient sages and ruin our descendants.”
Student: “Why did Yunju strike and criticise the monk for his answer?”
Master: “He showed compassion to pull the monk into the mountains.”
Commentary:
The best medicine kills people unless it is well used.
©Boo AhmAll writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
Zen Fools 