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Doken was told to go on a long journey to another monastery. He was much upset, because he felt that this trip would interrupt his studies for many months. So he said to his friend, the advanced student Sogen: "Please ask permission to come with me on the trip. There are so many things I do not know; but if you come along we can discuss them - in this way I can learn as we travel." "All right," said Sogen. "But let me ask you a question: If you are hungry, what satisfaction to you if I eat rice? If your feet are lame, what comfort to you if I go on merrily? If your bladder is full, what relief to you if I piss?" |
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Doken was told to go on a long journey to another monastery. He was much upset, because he felt that this trip would interrupt his studies for many months. So he said to his friend, the advanced student Sogen: "Please ask permission to come with me on the trip. There are so many things I do not know; but if you come along we can discuss them - in this way I can learn as we travel." "All right," said Sogen. "But let me ask you a question: If you are hungry, what satisfaction to you if I eat rice? If your feet are lame, what comfort to you if I go on merrily? If your bladder is full, what relief to you if I piss?" I like the way this koan reminds me that spiritual pursuits have much more to do with direct experience than with the accumulation of knowledge. Wonder why I have trouble remembering this? |
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Edited by
Ciuma
on
Sat 06/06/09 10:52 AM
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I get the point, but it's not a very good example. If BOTH pairs of feet are lame, then seeing one's friend go on merrily would make a great role-model for me. Happens all the time. Role-models are very important to me. Most important is certainly when you have your own insights and not just think, "Oh, I would like to do that, too," but the greatest role-model for me is one who can help others find the path themselves. "Give someone a potato, and they'll eat for a day... teach someone to grow crops, and they'll eat for a year!"
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