Action speaks louder than words

Zen koans offer insight that prompts reflection about your own thoughts and behaviour. This classic is shared from http://www.ashidakim.com/zenkoans/zenindex.html

In modern times, a great deal of nonsense is talked about masters and disciples, and about the inheritance of a master's teaching by favorite pupils, entitling them to pass the truth on to their adherents. Of course Zen is impartedfrom heart to heart, and in the past it was really accomplished. Silence and humility reigned rather than profession and assertion.He who received such a teaching kept the matter hidden, even after twenty years. Not until another discovered through his own need that a real master was at hand was it learned hat the teaching had been imparted. Even then, the occasion arose quite naturally. Teaching made its way in its own right. Under no circumstances dida teacher even claim "I am the successor of So-and-so." Such a claim would prove quite the contrary.

The Zen master Mu-nan had only one successor. His name was Shoju. After Shoju had completed his study of Zen, Mu-nan called him into his room. "I am getting old," he said, "and as far as I know, Shoju, you are the only one who will carry on this teaching. Here is a book. It has been passed down from master to master for seven generations. I also have added many points according to my understanding. The book is very valuable, and I am giving it to you to represent your successorship."

"If the book is such an important thing, you had better keep it," Shoju replied. "I received your Zen without writing and am satisfied with it as it is."

"I know that," said Mu-nan. "Even so, this work has been carried from master to master for seven generations, so you may keep it as a symbol of having received the teaching. Here."

The two happened to be talking before a brazier. The instant Shoju felt the book in his hands he thrust it into the flaming coals. He had no lust for possessions.

Mu-nan, who never had been angry before, yelled: "What are you doing!"

Shoju shouted back: "What are you saying!"

What is your impression of this tale? What insight do you extract from it? How do you relate in your life right now?

Comments

[Lisa (Mommy Mystic)]

Liara, I love this tale, thanks for sharing, To me it reminds me that insight is not intellect, and book learning is not wisdom. Sometimes books and intellect are helpful tools, but truth is in the heart, or in the union of heart and mind. Namaste-

[Kaushik | beyond-karma.com]

Hi Liara,
I suppose it could be telling us about the fallacy of intellectual beliefs. Shoju's violence of the book burning was unnecessary, unless he thought people would be led by it. It would also break the secrecy of the tradition.

In the end, like all zen stories, it is a silly story. Truth is not to be found in intellect, not even in the intellect of Zen stories. Truth is much simpler.

[Liara Covert]

Lisa, truth is indeed always accessible in the heart. Stories can be viewed as tools to guide you back to what you already know within. The possibility always exists to combine and align animal and spiritual natures rather than permit either one to be dominant. Serenity is the baseline.

[Liara Covert]

Kaushik, human beings are conditioned by the energy matrix to make complicated what is actually very simple. When negative energy, impatience or any kind of restlessness is evoked inside you, then the situation at hand it is especially good for you. As you raise awareness, you learn what different emotions feel like. You learn about each emotion and what it mirrors inside the self. You also learn to release and dissipate energy vibrations soul reveals that you outgrow. Nothing is meaningless.

[Hilary]

Hi Liara .. I just thought how unfair of Shoju to reject his teacher's gift - he may have learnt, but he cannot have learnt all about life or the teachings, no-one can teach you everything.

Thanks - Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

[Alexys Fairfield]

Liara,

Often times when we feel there is nothing else to learn, we are faced with many more lessons until we retire our ego. It is not the books we read, it's the volumes we become.

[Liara Covert]

Hilary, fairness is a human invention. It reveals bias and assumes good and bad exist, that one decision is necessarily better than another. A perception of fairness prevents your inner heart from connecting with the heart of creation. On a mental level, fairness does not exist.

[Liara Covert]

Alexys, a prime example of what you suggest is how the universe responds to someone who assumes he has learned patience. That person is faced with repeated situations that challenge what he thought he knew about self. The learning curve never ends. Expansion continues.

[Jannie Funster]

There is great strength in silence and humility, even when we are bold and following our dreams we can be humble.

[Liara Covert]

Jannie, as you say, it is so forever. Perception of need comes from a state of fear. Wanting can come from a state of love, but complete detachment from emotion is the road to liberating soul for more conscious creation. The energy flows through you to shift the mind from stagnant ideas and dark energy. Rebalancing is always possible.

[Jannie Funster]

Complete detachment from emotion seems new to me here. It seems I am always feeling something. Is that the whole "quieting the mind" idea?

[Liara Covert]

Jannie, different approaches exist to meditation. Learning to quiet the mind involves exercises that enable a person to discern the difference between soul-level intention/ energy and ego or other interference. Detachment is explored in more detail in Eastern philosophies. One classic book worth reading is Autobiography of a Yogi available online here-- http://www.crystalclarity.com/yogananda/
To learn to detach from how you feel does not mean the body does not generate emotion. It means you learn how not to be controlled or adversely affected by it. Consider these article suggestions for further reading here;

http://blog.dreambuilders.com.au/journal/2009/7/14/susan-shumsky-interview-on-divine-revelations.html

http://blog.dreambuilders.com.au/journal/2008/3/22/sense-the-most-appropriate-outcome.html

[Jannie Funster]

You are great, you know that?! You always go the extra mile to guide. Thank you.

[Liara Covert]

Hi Jannie,
The Self-Disclosure: Changes book is another useful resource that also empowers readers to learn to guide their inner transformation. That book is available through this site and also other distributors.

[soulMerlin]

What is your impression of this tale?
" It is very close to my current experiences"

What insight do you extract from it?
"I have spent most of my life as Shoju"

How do you relate in your life right now?
"I am now Mu-nan"

xhenry

[Liara Covert]

henry, wind echos the spirit of everything, everywhere. One perspective is you are every person, every thought, every feeling; love and fear energy, all at the same moment. As you move through layers of consciousness, you realize you ultimately journey through personal courage and faith. Higher self knows long before now that you arrive where you are and go further still.