Koans are the zen version of a parable. I found this one via StumbleUpon. (If you haven’t tried it yet, StumbleUpon is both very cool and very addictive.)
One evening as Zen Master Shichiri Kojun was reciting sutras, a thief with a knife crept in. “Your money or your life!”
Shichiri said, “Do not disturb me. You will find money in the cupboard near the wall.” Then he resumed his recitation as the thief began searching the cupboards.
After a few moments, Shichiri paused and called: “Don’t take it all. I need some to pay taxes with tomorrow.”
The intruder gathered up most of the money and started to leave. “Thank a person when you receive a gift,” Shichiri added. The man thanked him and fled.
A few days later, the thief was caught and confessed to many crimes, including stealing from Shichiri. When Shichiri was called as a witness he said: “This man is no thief, at least as far as I am concerned. I gave him the money and he thanked me for it.”
After he finished his prison term, the man went to Shichiri and became his disciple.
I think Jesus would’ve liked Shichiri.
This is actually very similar to a part of the book Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (better known for the hit musical; the book is about 1300 pages long). Very good story, thanks for sharing!
The master Bankei’s talks were attended not only by Zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras not indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words were spoken directly from his heart to the hearts of his listeners.
His large audience angered a priest of the Nichiren sect because the adherents had left to hear about Zen. The self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to have a debate with Bankei.
“Hey, Zen teacher!” he called out. “Wait a minute. Whoever respects you will obey what you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?”
“Come up beside me and I will show you,” said Bankei.
Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to the teacher.
Bankei smiled. “Come over to my left side.”
The priest obeyed.
“No,” said Bankei, “we may talk better if you are on the right side. Step over here.”
The priest proudly stepped over to the right.
“You see,” observed Bankei, “you are obeying me and I think you are a very gentle person. Now sit down and listen.”
BardRT, my uncle totally does that all the time…he usually ends with, “That’s ok, I don’t need anything, I just wanted to show you who has the power here!”