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21 April, 2010

Zen Buddhism Almost Killed Me Tonight

I read this and aspirated an orange:
A samurai once asked Zen Master Hakuin where he would go after he died.

Hakuin answered 'How am I supposed to know?'

'How do you not know? You're a Zen master!' exclaimed the samurai.

'Yes, but not a dead one,' Hakuin answered.

That'll teach me to read Zen quotes with my mouth full.

1 comment:

  1. My teacher Zen Master Seung Sahn was once asked this question.
    The student asked: Master, when you die where will you go?
    ZMSS: Why do you want to know?
    Student: Because I only follow you, so I want to know.
    ZMSS: When I die, I think I will go to hell.
    Student: OH NO! WHY! You are a great man why won't you go to heaven?
    ZMSS: You don't understand Heaven, in heaven everyone gets everything, there is no wanting and so it is pretty boring. In hell there are many suffering people, so it is very interesting. So, I will go to hell and save all the suffering people.

    thanks for your post
    Paul

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