A little Buddhist flavored humor
August 11, 2008 by K.
From McSweeney’s
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Zen Parable
or Just Someone
Being Cruel?
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1.
The student Tokusan used to go to Master Ryutan in the evenings to talk and to listen. One night, it was very late before he was finished asking questions.
“Why don’t you go to bed?” asked Ryutan.
Tokusan bowed, and lifted the screen to go out. “The hall is very dark,” he said.
“Here, take this candle,” said Ryutan, lighting one.
Tokusan took the candle.
Ryutan leaned forward, and blew it out. |
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Posted in Stories | Tagged Humor | 1 Comment
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Definitely a Zen parable.
I think the master was trying to demonstrate to his student that the candle and the flame are not the same just as understanding the dharma and realizing the nature of the mind are not the same. The candle represents the dharma and the flame represents the realization. The master lights the candle to show that the dharma can lead to the realization of the nature of the mind. He then blows it out to show that he can only give the student the dharma, the candle. He can not give him the realization, the flame. The student must use the candle to realize the nature of his own mind and become the light onto himself.