‘Everything in this life is impermanent’ he explained. The man was utterly ashamed He apologized profusely to the teacher of his emperor. ‘I am Gudo of Kyoto and I am going on to Edo,’ replied the Zen master. ‘Who are you? Where do yon come from?’ he asked Gudo, who still was meditating. In the morning when the husband awoke he had forgotten about the previous night. He drank the wine at once and laid himself down on the floor. You might as well have them.’ The man was delighted. In return I have bought some wine and fish. ‘I happened to be caught in the rain and your wife kindly asked me to remain here for the night. Have you something for me eat?’ I have something for you: said Gudo. I will meditate before the shrine.’ When the man of the house returned about midnight, quite drunk he bellowed: ‘Hey, wife I am home. Get me a gallon of fine wine and something good to eat. What can I do? ‘I will help him,’ said Gudo. Sometimes when becomes thoroughly drunk he does not come home at all. When he losses he borrows money from others. ‘When he happens to win he drinks and becomes abusive. ‘My husband is a gambler and a drunkard,’ the housewife told him. Observing that the entire family was depressed Gudo asked what was wrong. He then was introduced to the woman’s mother, and to her children. He entered and recited a sutra before the family shrine. The woman who offered him the sandals seeing how wet he was invited him to remain for the night in her home. At a farmhouse near the village he noticed four or five pairs of sandals in the window and decided to buy some dry ones. It was evening and a heavy rain was falling. Once when he was on his way to Edo, the cultural and political center of the shogunate, he approached a little village mad Takenaka. Nevertheless, he used to travel done as a wandering mendicant. Gudo was the emperor’s teacher of his time. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup? ‘ ‘You are full of your own opinions and speculations. No more will go in!’ ‘Like this cup,’ Nan-in said. The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring. Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912) received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. When I find a web copy of Centering, I’ll share it, too. As an added bonus, I’ve added The Gateless Gate- Zen Koans used for meditation. I’ve posted the first 10 here and made a link at the end where you can download the whole thing (this section, anyway). So, my second choice must be the best- 101 Zen Stories. ZFZB is actually 4 books- My favorite section is and was the one titled “Centering” which I haven’t been able to find yet on the net. Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, compiled by Paul Reps, was one of my first non-scriptural Buddhist texts I encountered and had a profound influence on my thinking as a kid-adult. The first Buddhist oriented book I read was the Dhammapada, which is kind of like the “Dick & Jane” of the Pali Canon. I was looking for explanations for things I was experiencing and for tools for greater understanding. When I was about 8 I started reading everything I could find in the religion section at the downtown Multnomah County library.
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