Zen Master | Honora Zen Monastery

Once they were two zen monks on their way to a hermitage to visit an enlightened zen master. They were about 4 km away from their destination and about to cross a stream when they noticed a discarded leaf floating on the current. They immediately grumbled, 'Hmm! What sort of enlightened zen master is he? How can he keep the Way when can not even save a vegetable leaf? We've worn out our shoes for nothing.' As they were to give up and return, they heard a shout, 'Hey, zen monks! Can you grab that leaf for me? I've been running after it for 4 km.' They turned around and saw an old zen master running after it. They seized the leaf and were content to resume their steps toward the old zen masters hermitage.

When truth is spoken, there is nothing to do but listen.

The Zen Master announces the beginning of the meditation retreat

A zen meditation retreat is an all-out effort by zen monks to achieve Enlightenment. Monastic life resembles the military in a way. As a soldier prepares for battle, a zen monk readies himself for the meditation retreat.

The afternoon was windy, and snow began to fall at sunset. I was happy to see the year's first snow. Several more zen monks arrived. Others were already sitting inside in zen meditation, preparing themselves mentally for the arduous months ahead. The wind outside blew snowflakes here and there.

I am a simple zen monk, I'm neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with my work. I simply accept it because communal life requires me to discipline myself.

The zen master gives the following talk:

Nothing is permanent, everything is eternal. As for the form of things, we see impermanence, but in their Original Nature, we see the eternal. On the one hand, we deny the eternal because humans are mortal, but we affirm the eternal because of our human potential. The suffering and attachments of sentient beings negate eternal life, but thanks to the Holy and Wise Ones attainment of Liberation, we can have faith in the eternal.

Let's put aside our human limitation and develop our potential to the utmost. Like animals in winter stroking their pregnant bellies dreaming about the joy of future offspring, like seeds about to sprout in the frozen ground. Let's cultivate our Original Nature this zen meditation retreat in order to attain Enlightenment. Original Nature is in ourselves and eternal.

Both the zen master giving the talk and those who listened deeply resolved to achieve Enlightenment that meditation retreat. Some gritted their teeth and others clenched their fists in determination.

Determination

At one in the afternoon the slap of the wooden sticks resonated in the zen meditation hall to mark the beginning. Every zen monk sat in meditation. The room as silent; you can barely detect the sound of breathing. Everyone was intent on Enlightenment. No one moved. But what about their minds?

Zen monks can be compared to soldiers in battle. As a soldier is judged by his actions on the battlefield, a zen monk is recognized for wisdom cultivated in the zen meditation hall.