A monk said to T'ou-tzu, "'All sounds are the sounds of Buddha' - is that correct or not?"
T'ou-tzu said, "Correct."
The monk said, "Doesn't your asshole make farting sounds?"
T'ou-tzu hit him.
The monk said, "'Course words and gentle phrases all have their source in essential nature' - is that correct or not?"
T'ou-tzu said, "Correct."
The monk said, "Then may I call Your Reverence a donkey?"
T'ou-tzu hit him.
Commentary
Who won and who lost? T'ou-tzu swung at the monk two times, but the poor fellow only got hit once.
I appreciate this nameless monk's willingness to goose his teacher. Nevertheless, Yuan-wu comments that the monk didn't "notice the smell of his own shit."
Source: The Blue Cliff Record, translated by Thomas Cleary and J.C. Cleary (Case 79)
Photo by Dave Wild
the power of the right word at the right time is unfathomable. Thank god for crazy wisdom!!
Posted by: Dochong, JDPSN | November 18, 2008 at 08:15 PM
The play is wonderful, isn't it, Paul? Thank you for your comment!
Barry
Posted by: Barry Briggs | November 18, 2008 at 09:16 PM
Holy crap of Buddha! Thank you for this wonderful, truly wonderful post! I just love it! :)
Posted by: Uku | November 19, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Holy donkey crap of Buddha!
Thank you, Uku!
Posted by: Barry Briggs | November 19, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Who won? Who Lost?
Watch out!
Smack.
"Y"
Posted by: Yamakoa | November 21, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Ouch! Ouch!
Posted by: Barry Briggs | November 21, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Not living up to your own words is sure to make you hit the wrong man.
Posted by: Zen Guy | February 02, 2009 at 05:33 AM
Thanks for your comment, Zen Guy. When a person fails to live up to his/her own words, that person is sure to get hit!
Posted by: Barry Briggs | February 02, 2009 at 07:32 AM
I think you are blinded by T'ou-tzu's authority. Look at what I said again.
Even the Buddha blew farts and came in his wife.
Preferring this over that. Where does it end?
Posted by: Zen Guy | February 02, 2009 at 06:30 PM
ah but sid was not buddha when he came in his wife...
Posted by: ... | February 07, 2009 at 05:05 PM