At some point Rinzai was sitting in entrance of the monks’ corridor. Seeing Obaku come, he closed his eyes as if asleep. Obaku, as if frightened, returned to his quarters. Rinzai adopted him there and bowed his apology. The top monk was current, attending Obaku in his quarters. Obaku remarked, “Though that is only a younger monk, he understands this nice matter.” The top monk mentioned, “Previous Venerable, why do you testify to his future life regardless that his heels haven’t touched the bottom?” Obaku slapped himself throughout the mouth. The top monk mentioned, “When you perceive, it’s all proper.”
Commentary:
Seeing Obaku come, Rinzai revealed the true-Self by closing his eyes as if asleep. Sensing his intention, Obaku responded by exhibiting the true-Self by means of pretending to be frightened. Rinzai bowed his apology for having examined Obaku. Then, Obaku examined the pinnacle monk to see whether or not he was deluded by phrases or not by saying, ‘he understands this nice matter’. The top monk was clever sufficient to answer, “Why do you testify to his future life regardless that his heels haven’t touched the bottom?” This implies, “When you see Rinzai as he’s, he was not born nor does he have any type. What do you deal with as ‘this’, ‘a younger monk’ and ‘he’?” Obaku accredited the pinnacle monk’s remark whereas pretending to confess his mistake of creating a discrimination together with his mouth by slapping himself throughout the mouth.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All pictures ©Simon Hathaway