After Hyangum opened his temple, Weishan sent a monk to deliver a letter and a staff. Upon receiving them, Hyangum lamented crying out, “Alas, heavens! Alas, heavens!” The monk asked, “Master, why are you like this?” Hyangum replied, “It is because the weather feels like winter during my spring outing.”
Student: “Why did the master lament crying out ‘Alas, heavens’?”
Master: “He expressed gratitude to Weishan for his compassion and to the monk for his long trip.”
Commentary:
A host and his servant give presents to a guest at the same time, but the foolish guest, dismissive of the host’s valuable present, only takes a poor gift from the servant.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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