January 31, 2007...6:54 pm
Chinese Zen master Sozan- The Most Valuable Thing in the World
The Most Valuable Thing in the World
Sozan, a Chinese Zen master, was asked by a student: “What is the most valuable thing in the world?”
The master replied: “The head of a dead cat.”
“Why is the head of a dead cat the most valuable thing in the world?” inquired the student.
Sozan replied: “Because no one can name its price.”
The Japanese Character you see above means nothingness. The ultimate value of Zen. You can’t set a price on “nothingness” and you can’t price a dead cat either. The value is no-value and the no-value is THE value. The head of a dead cat is Buddha.
Read more on “nothingness”: heiddeger-and-zen-an-exploration
Seizei Alone and Poor
A monk named Seizei asked of Sozan: `Seizei is alone and poor. Will you give him support?’
Sozan asked: `Seizei?’
Seizei responded: `Yes, sir.’
Sozan said: `You have Zen, the best wine in China, and alrady have finished three cups, and still you are saying that they did not even wet your lips.’
Mumon’s Comment: Seizei overplayed his hand. Why was it so? Because Sozan had eyes and knew whom to deal. Even so, I want to ask: At what point did Seizei drink wine?
The poorest man in China,
The bravest man in China,
He barely sustains himself,
Yet wishes to rival the wealthiest.
Master Sozan who once asked a monk:
“How is it when the dharma body of reality is manifesting
form in accordance with beings, like the moon reflected in
the water?”
The monk said, “It’s like a donkey looking at a well.
” Sozan said, “You have said quite a lot, but you have
only said eighty percent of it.”
The monk then asked, “What do you say, teacher?”
Sozan answered, “It’s like the well
looking at the donkey.”
Sozan once said to Shie Doja, “Aren’t you `Paper Clothes
the Pilgrim’?”
Shie Doja answered, “I am not worthy of being so.”
Sozan asked, “What is the thing beneath paper clothes?”
Shie Doja said, “When just a leather garment is put on the
body, all things are of their suchness.”
Sozan said, “What is the activity beneath paper clothes?”
Shie Doja came near him, did as he was asked, and died
standing up.
Sozan said, “You have expounded the going, but how about
the coming?”
Shie Doja suddenly opened his eyes and asked, “How about
when a spiritual nature does not borrow a placenta?”
Sozan said, “This is not yet wonderful.”
Shie Doja asked, “What is wonderful then?”
Sozan said, “Not-borrowing borrowing.”
Shie Doja thereupon said, “Be happy, be well!” and died,
sitting.
Sozan made a verse:
The enlightened mind is a perfect and formless body.
Do not believe, unreasonably,
that it is far off or near!
Thoughts of difference becloud the original form.
A mind at variance with itself cannot be in harmony with the way.
When emotion distinguishes phenomena, we fall into materiality.
When intellect judges the manifold, we lose the reality.
If you understand perfectly the meaning of these words,
you are without doubt beyond danger like those of ancient
times.
Quote
“After enlightenment, the laundry.”
Zen Proverb
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Krishnamurti: his splendid and iconoclastic Writings on Truth and Meditation
Epistemology
Epistemology and Zen - Philosophy and Science in Relation to Zen Buddhism
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