THE ZEN BEAR
THE ZEN BEAR
THE OLD ZEN MASTER
A long time ago in old Japan a western scholar wished to learn the meaning of Zen. He had heard many different things
from many different people but most of it made no sense to him. So he decided to visit the home of an old and wise
Zen master who he had been told was THE ZEN GUY around town, and could explain the true meaning of Zen to him.
The scholar arrived mid-evening around supper time after walking the long distance from town. The walk leading to the
old man's humble house was difficult to see in the shaded twilight. Fortunately a large patch of smooth white gravel and
stones had been combed out on the ground near the walk in graceful patterns that caught just enough of the light to make
it easy to cut across.
He came upon the door and rapped lightly, then a bit harder, then - after a pause - a bit harder still. Eventually
shuffling could be heard approaching from inside. The Scholar immediately introduced himself as the old man opened the door
and with a broad grin insisted that he teach the scholar Zen.
The old man had been just sitting down to supper, but as politeness was in his nature he invited the man in for tea.
As he prepared the tea the scholar told the Zen master all he had heard of Zen from the different people he had spoken to
and began to compare and contrast the different views. The Zen master motioned for silence. "To understand Zen, you
must first understand tea. Hold out your cup, and do not let go." As the old man poured the scholar watched the tea
flow intently. He noted it's odor and texture. He compared the color of the water with that of the leaves. He
studied the tea so intently that he did not notice at first when the hot tea overflowed the cup onto his hands.
"OW! OW! OW!" the scholar yelled.
"Do not let go," crooned the Zen master in soothing
monosyllables as the tea overran the cup and ran in rivulets down the sides of the low wooden table onto the scholar's
thigh. " To understand Zen is to understand the transience of pain"
"OW! OW"
"To understand Zen is to be calm and detached from the world."
"OW! OW!"
"And yet it is to be in the world and to be aware of all that is around you.
OW! OW! OW!
"It's really about focus"
OH!
"But not quite."
"AAAaaaaa!"
"Yeeeeeeeesss. It is all that and yet . . ."
The scholar could not hold still any longer. He jumped up, hurling the cup away from him, and in a rage turned on the old man.
"What the hell are you doing?!" he cried. "I'm not learning anything about Zen."
"Of course not." replied the Zen master. "
How can I teach you when your cup is already filled to it's capacity with what you think you already know."
". . .What?"
"To understand Zen you must first quiet your mind of what you have been told or may have imagined. You must first
empty your cup and experience Zen without debate. Otherwise the cup overspills, and you are merely burnt."
"Oh. . .well, um - That's - actually very profound - I guess.
"Your welcome. You may go now. Today's lesson is over. If you wish you may come back tomorrow.
"Uh, Yeah, maybe." and on that note, the scholar bowed politely - and walked briskly away.
And the Zen Master finally sat down to his meal.
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