if you were one of the monks, what would you have said? I would have said - "Then let Brother >> insert other brothers name here << have the kitten, I would not wish such a fate for the adorable little kitten, I would rather I lose it and have it live than risk its death. why did the master chop the kitten in half? To teach them a lesson - the lesson being: Don't fuck with me or !! I'll KILL YOU !! To teach them a lesson - the lesson being: If you really owned and loved the kitten then you wouldn't let me !! KILL IT !! To satisfy your own selfish desires of misplaced ownership. To teach them a lesson - the lesson being: Sharing, it's only fair.
StillPond, I have heard this one before, though I have heard it with a slight variation. Nansen saw the monks of the eastern and western halls fighting over a cat. He seized the cat and told the monks: "If any of you say a good word, you can save the cat." No one answered. So, Nansen boldly cut the cat in two pieces. That evening, Joshu returned and Nansen told him about this. Joshu removed his sandals and, placing them on his head, walked out. Nansen said: "If you had been there, you could have saved the cat." If we start from the awareness that all is one, then there really are no east-side monks or west-side monks. Nansen was trying to make them see that, just as the cat cannot be split and remain whole to any purpose, neither can the body of monks be split and serve any good purpose. When Joshu removed his sandals, placed them on his head, and walked out, he may have been illustrating that, though something may appear to be beneath you, it actually supports the whole and is part of the foundation of the One, worthy of respect. The word is love/sharing!
If you chop that kitten in half you're a shiity bastard. Because he was a shitty bastard, thus once again proving that I am right.
Absolutely! If I were one of the monks, I would have said, "You're next, shitty bastard!!! Well said Symptom.
*Slaps hand to forehead* LMAO!! I don't usually miss much, but I did miss the gem in the middle of Ben's post. First and foremost, the lesson that the master wanted the monks to learn was precisely: Don't fuck with me or I'll kill you!
Symptom, I've searched these forums high and low (usually high) and I can't find the "My name is StillPond and I'm a prick" thread. Coincidently, the name of that thread is exactly what StillPond would say before taking his turn to speak at a "Pricks Anonymous" meeting. I'm pretty sure he's not a prick, though. I haven't seen him at any of the meetings. Glen.
For Glennn - Tah Dah!! http://www.frostcloud.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7107&highlight=zen koans 101 For future reference there is a search function at the top of the pages User CP All Albums Blogs FAQ ChatBox Members List New Posts Search Quick Links Log Out
LOL - I know you did, it was more a reference for those that didn't know who may be reading and interested, of course you knew about it.
I knew you knew I knew. Damn it, Ben, if you were any kind of a friend, you'd stop me. Do something for god's sake! I don't want to know anymore!
You can't go back, you know this, as a friend all I can do is help you be ok with the knowing - yes, it sucks, but it is better to know than to make your moves in ignorance - ignorance is only bliss when you have never been anything but ignorant. surely there is a Zen Koan which covers this.
