Zen masters lived such simple lives that often it took a second glance to seperate the masters from their disciples. One such zen master, Kam-ban, dressed so simply that most of the times people mistook him for a common mendicant. They would fill his bowl with leftovers and then send him on his way. Had those people known who he really was they would have certainly invited him in and treated him like an honoured guest. Kam-ban did nothing to let those people know who he was but once alone in the forest he would often utter a word or two of such brilliance that the trees would seem to sway and stoop in admiration.
Koji was a bright student of Kam-ban. He was very protective towards his master and sometimes got into a fight with people who he thought did not accord proper respect to his master. Kam-ban would then rap Koji's knuckles with a stick and remind him of his vows.
Once Koji and Kam-ban were going through a forest and came across a waterfall. Both decided to stop and rest. Koji fell asleep for a while and when he woke up he saw his master standing at the very edge of the waterfall and much to his horror he saw his master slip and fall down the precipe. He screamed and rushed down to help his master. When he reached the bottom he saw his master calmly emerge from the pool. Koji admonished his master for stepping so close to the edge. Kam-ban calmly replied, ' the edge of the waterfall holds no fear for he who falls with the fall and flows with the flow'
1 comment:
No doubt, nature is the surest guide..
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