Dropping Ashes on the Buddha

When Zen Master Seung Sahn began teaching in the West, he developed a set of twelve kong-ans called the "Twelve Gates." These cases form the core of the tradition's kong-an training.

Today, I'd like to examine the Sixth Gate, "Dropping Ashes on the Buddha." Here's how the case appears on the school's website:

A man came into the Zen Center smoking a cigarette, blowing smoke in the Buddha-statue's face and dropping ashes on its lap.

The abbot came in, saw the man, and said, "Are you crazy? Why are you dropping ashes on the Buddha?"

The man answered, "Buddha is everything. Why not?"

The abbot couldn't answer and went away.

Zen Master Seung Sahn asked the following questions about this case:

1. "Buddha is everything." What does that mean?

2. Why did the man drop ashes on the Buddha?

3. If you had been the abbot, how could you have fixed this man's mind?

Commentary: How do you meet the Buddha? Where do you throw away ashes? Its all very clear. Your correct function is always in front of you.

Note: There is an important factor in this case that has apparently never been explicitly included in its print versions. Zen Master Seung Sahn has always told his students that the man with the cigarette is also very strong and that he will hit you if he doesn't approve of your response to his actions.

Commentary
The "cigarette man" is a difficult fellow, but not so different from the various difficult people we meet in daily life. Essentially, he's just a person who rains on our parade.

Before we can "fix the cigarette man's mind," we must first perceive how his mind functions.

If we discover that he will accept guidance, then we can guide him. If we discover that he won't accept guidance, then we can guide him out of our lives.

Not everyone will accept good medicine. But we must give it, so that the opportunity for awakening remains open.

Photo by Bruce

Comments

[Mike Ayers]

I'm starting to read up on Zen after having a bit of a fill of Advaita for the moment, and I found your site. Great stuff! Reminds me of "Zen Bones, Zen Flesh".

Thanks for the site!

Mike

[Uku]

Man, if I would smoke, I would also blow smoke to Buddha's statue and dropping ashes on its lap and when I'm done, I'd smash the butt of a cigarette against Buddha's eye. Or ear. But because I don't smoke, I can't do it. I just love Seung Sanh's teachings, they're great! Thank you, Barry!

[Barry Briggs]

Hi Mike,
Thank you for your comment. I look forward to seeing you around Go Drink Tea!

Barry

[Barry Briggs]

Hi Uku,
Unfortunately for you, if you tried all that, the keen-eyed abbot would be there to correct your thinking - or kick you in the butt!

What fun!

Barry

[puerhan]

Indeed the Buddha is everything and so why drop ashes anywhere?

_/\_

[Barry]

Hi Puerhan,
Or, since the Buddha is everything, why not drop the ashes everywhere?

Thanks for your comment!
Barry