| Poetry and Writings Index Spiritual Stories 8 |
| Kčl§ćng |
| These
stories were transcribed into English from a book called the Shaski-shu
(Collection of Stone and Sand), written late in the thirteenth century by
the Japanese Zen teacher Muiu (the 'non-dweller'), and from anedates of
Zen monks taken from various books published in Japan around the turn of
the present century. For Orientals, more interested in being than in busyness, the self-discovered person has been the most worthy of respect. Such a human proposes to open their consciousness iust as the Buddha (500 BC) did. These are stories about such self-discoveries. The following is adapted from the preface to the first edition o[ these stories in English. Zen might be called the inner art and design of the Orient. It was rooted in China by Bodhldharma, who came from India in the sixth century and was canned eastward into Japan by the twelfth century. It has been described as: 'A special teaching without scriptures, beyond words and letters, pointing to the mind-essence of humans, seeing directly into ones nature, attaining enlightenment. The Moon Cannot Be Stolen Ryokan , a Zen Master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing in it to steal. Ryokan returned and caught him. "You may have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift". The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away. Ryokan sat naked watching the moon, "Poor fellow", he mused, "I wish I could give him this beautiful moon." |
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