Zen Buddhism

Author(s): Christmas Humphereys
Publisher: William Heinemann LTD

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ZEN BUDDHISM which form the ocean of sorrow which all but drowns mankind. But the self views all things from its own level; it therefore regards all problems, tensions of the opposites, as real. The solution is simple. When a Brahman came to the Buddha, bearing a gift in either hand, the Buddha's greeting was the one word—“Drop it!” The Brahman dropped the gift in his right hand and advanced. "Drop it!" said the Blessed One, and the Brahman dropped the gift in his other hand. But as he advanced with empty hands, again the command rang out-"Drop it!” The Brahman was enlightened; his ignorance was purged away. Yet, as I have learnt from bitter experience, it needs great courage to drop it, when "it" is the self, with all its beliefs, ideals, ambition and emotional ties.
There is another story which I have found delicious to apply. Two monks were returning to their monastery at nightfall, when they came to a ford. At the ford was a very pretty girl in despair at crossing the stream. Without pausing in his stride one of the monks picked her up, crossed the stream, put her down and walked on. The other monk was furious and dismayed. "How could you not only touch her but take her in your arms," he expostulated, remembering the Rules. And he continued to mutter the whole way home. Finally the first monk turned to him, as though with an effort dragging his thoughts to earth. “Oh, that girl. I left her at the ford. Are you still carrying her?" I sometimes think of the opposites as held apart with a fearful effort of the mind. How nice if one day I could let go, and listen to the "ping" with which they would spring back into unity!
Yet the intellect, for all its limitations, is essential, and