Master Fuke went to a patron’s house with Master Rinzai to eat lunch.
Master Rinzai asked: It is said in the sutras that a hair swallows the great ocean and a poppy seed encompasses Mount Sumeru. Are these also cases of “mystical abilities” or “splendid functions,” or are they just the real fact as it is?
Then Master Fuke turned the table and the meal upside down.
Master Rinzai said: What a rude man!
Master Fuke said: This place where we exist is ineffable. Why do you sometimes call it rude and sometimes call it polite?
Master Rinzai did not say anything.
The next day the two masters again went to have lunch with a family.
Master Rinzai asked: Is the offering today better or worse than yesterday?
Again Master Fuke upset the table.
Master Rinzai said: What a rude man!
Master Fuke said: You are blind. How can Buddhism preach rudeness or excellence?
Master Rinzai stuck out his tongue.
1 comments:
Being inclined towards boorish behaviour myself, I might like to take this koan as an invitation to be a macho Zen asshole (zen certainly seems to attract a fair share of 'angry young men'... and some 'angry not-so-young men'). But that would probably be more about my dogged adherence to my own life circumstances than about any liberating understanding of what really constitutes 'mystical powers' and 'splendid functions'.
At any rate, Fuke's rough presentation of 'mystical powers and functions' is shown as causing Rinzai to stick out his tongue *in surprise* in the Tanahashi translation; so maybe the old barbarian struck it lucky on the day.
Regards,
Harry.
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