A Zen Wave: Basho's Haiku and Zen by Matsuo Basho

Author:Matsuo Basho
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2009-05-12T23:08:00+00:00

T'ieh-mo came to Kuei-shan, who greeted her, saying: "T'ieh-mo! You old cow! So you have come!"

T'ieh-mo replied: "Tomorrow there will be a great communal meeting at Mount T'ai. Will Your Reverence be going?"

Kuei-shan relaxed his body and slumped to the floor. T'iehmo walked out.'

Liu T'ieh-mo was "Iron Grindstone Liu," a doughty old lady, it seems, and a Dharma heir of Kuei-shan. He greeted her affectionately-the cow had an honored place in their society. This case is full of koan points, the first one involving the fact that Mt. T'ai was much too far away for Kuei-shan to reach it in a day. What is the understanding these two old worthies shared?

Some people say that koans are stale old exercises that obscure the living fact of realization. If one takes them in that spirit, they probably are. Some people say that tea ceremony is a contrived ritual of rich people pretending to be in harmony with nature and each other. That is one way to look at it, and not altogether untrue in some instances.

"How do you do?" "Thank you." These expressions can be cheap and meaningless, but only for people who have lost the touchstone of humanity. I show you my touchstone: "How do you do?" You show me yours: "Thank you very much."

When the weather is warm, we like to go to the beach together, and this experience is fellowship in fine weather. But when the weather is cool and rainy, we stay at home and have tea. This is another kind of fellowship. There are fewer distractions, and the sound of the rain and the quiet conversation we enjoy are a treasured that is deeply meaningful. How else may we find our pleasure here?

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