Taha and His Mother
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Transcript of Taha and His Mother
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Zen Stories-Zhou and His
Mother
Prepared by
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Zhou became a teacher of Zen. When he was still a student his father passed
away, leaving him to take care of his old mother.
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Whenever Zhou went to a meditation hall he always took his mother withhim. Since she accompanied him, when he visited monasteries he could notlive with the monks. So he would built a little house and care for her there.He would copy sutras, Buddhist verses, and in this manner receive a fewcoins for food.
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When Zhou bought fish for his mother, the people would look down uponhim. For a monk is not supposed to eat fish. His mother, however, was hurt tosee others laugh at her son. Finally she told Zhou: "I think I will become anun. I can be vegetarian too." She did, and they studied together.
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Zhou was fond of music and is good in playing harp, which his mother alsoplayed. On full-moon nights they used to play together. One night a younglady passed by their house and heard music. Deeply touched, she invitedZhou to visit her the next evening and play. He accepted the invitation. A fewdays later he met the young lady on the street and thanked her for herhospitality. Others laughed at him. He had visited the house of a woman ofthe streets.
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One day Zhou left for a distant temple to deliver a lecture. A few monthsafterwards he returned home to find his mother dead. Friends had notknown where to reach him, so the funeral was in progress.
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Zhou walked up and hit the coffin with his staff. "Mother, your son hasreturned," he said.
"I am glad to see you have returned, son," he answered for his mother.
"Yes, I am glad too," Zhou responded. Then he announced to the peopleabout him: "The funeral ceremony is over. You may bury the body."
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When Zhou was old he knew his end was approaching. He asked hisdisciples to gather around him in the morning, telling them he was goingto pass on at noon. Burning incense before the picture of his mother andhis old teacher, he wrote a poem:
For fifty-six years I lived as best I could,Making my way in this world.Now the rain has ended, the clouds are clearing,
The blue sky has a full moon.
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His disciples gathered around him, reciting sutra, and Zhou
passed away during the invocation.
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Reflections What ever be your beliefs respect others way
of living. If they are convinced by your waysthey will join you.
Appreciation of art and music has nothing todo with richness, character
You see buddha in you and buddha in everybody. Therefore, dead mother buddha,
replied and living Zohu has told information. Always prefer middle path, neither totally
away from worldly things or immersed inworldly things.
