Zen Parables
-
Upload
ivan-geiry -
Category
Documents
-
view
254 -
download
1
Transcript of Zen Parables
-
8/9/2019 Zen Parables
1/8
OUT
Zen Parables
Zen is difficultto describe. It is a
sect
of
Buddhism, but it is less a religion than a form
of Buddhist meditative practice. It has no holy
book, no
ornate
church or temple, no
complicated ritual. Zen monks do
not
preach
sermons
about
right and wrong behavior.
Zen focuses on
the
inner self,
rather
than
on
the
outer self
that
acts in the world. Yet
for eight hundred years, Zen
has strongly
appealed
to
japanese warriors as well as
to
monks, politicians, and artists. Today, it isalso
practiced by people in
the
East and
the
West
from all walks of lifeand different religions
who wish
to
find inner peace, relieve stress,
and focus on essential priorities.
The
Philosophy
of
Zen
heo bj ec t of Zen is
to
free the mind from
everyday, conventional logic through medita
tion. Followers of Zen believe that meditation
empties
the
mind and suppresses
the
ego.
leading to a clearer understanding of one s
own nature. According
to
one
legend,
Bodhldharma, a famous
Zen
monk, gazed at
a blank wall for nine years before achieving
inner enlightenment.
Monks and
Warriors
Originating in India and spreading to China.
Zen Buddhism was introduced
to
japan in
I 191. Zen monasteries
were soon
founded in
Kamakura and Kyoto. During the Kamakura
period I 185-1333).
the
samurai, feudal
warriors who served
the
aristocracy,
were
attracted
to
Zen because of its discipline and
simplicity. They applied Zen principles to
martial arts such as archery and fencing.
Virtually every aspect of Japanese culture
has been influenced by Zen. Because monks
Japanese painting of a Zen monk.
drank bitter green tea in order
to
stay awake
during meditation.
tea
drinking grew into an
intricate and symbol-laden ritual. The arts also
felt the impact of Zen. as manifested in the
conciseness of haiku poetry see page 448).
Nearly every
ar t
form of classical
japan-
painting, poetry, dance, architecture. drama,
and even
gardening has
been shaped
to
some
degree by Zen. with its emphasis on simplicity,
self-discipline, and meditation. Even the
expressions of everyday Japanese speech
reflect
Zen
values.
en arables 6
-
8/9/2019 Zen Parables
2/8
en arables
Make
the
Connection
Quickwrite
As a class, compile a list of familiar stories
that
teach a
lesson--perhaps the
stories
are
from
the
Bible
or another
religious
text or
they
may be folk tales you have read
or
heard from
members
of your family.What
lessons do
the
stories
teach How
did you
figure ou t the lessons Do any of the
stories
share
th e same message]
Literary
o us
Parable
arables are
brief
stories that
teach a
moral,
or
lesson,
about
life.They
are
often
allegorical, having
both
literal and symbolic
levels of meaning.
The most
famous parables
in Western literature
are those
told by
Christ
in
the New Testament
(see page 83) .
Christ presents
moral lessons in short tales
about
everyday events such as a stray
sheep
or
a spendthrift son. Behind
the
simple
story
is a wise lesson
about th e
right way
to
live.
Many
Zen
stories
are
also deceptively simple
tales
that
contain profound truths.
A
parable
is a
short
allegorical story
that teaches
a moral
or
religious
lesson
about
life.
For more on Parables see the Handbook
Literary
n
Historical Terms
Background
Zen
parables
were
originally used
to
teach
aspiring monks about Buddhism. The
relationship
between
a
Zen monk
and his
teacher is an extraordinary one. Instead of
imparting knowledge in a clear and logical
way, the
Zen master
at first deliberately
tries to confuse his students, a tactic
that
forces
them
to abandon preconceived ideas.
This technique prepares th e
students
to
understand
the
sometimes paradoxical,
or
contradictory,
nature
of truth.
For example, to unsettle his students, a
master
may assume a fierce expression and
a cold demeanor. He may ask a pupil a ques-
tion and
then interrupt
him halfway through
the
answer. He may
pose what
appears to
be a ridiculous question, such as What did
your
face look like before you were born?
He may command
students
to perform
seemingly impossible tasks like Pull a bird
out
of
your
sleeve. He may also
answer
a
serious question with an absurd response.
Ifa pupil asks,
What
is
the
nature
of
the
Buddha his
master
might reply, Pass me
that
fan
or
Pork dumpling
Zen
masters behave in
these
ways in
part
to make
students
wary of language and con-
ventional ways of thinking.
Words
according
to
Zen
philosophy, can be dangerous, for
they prevent
people from experiencing
the
world directly as it actually is.
a Literature of India, China.
and
Japan
-
8/9/2019 Zen Parables
3/8
tr nsl ted y
aul eps
Carved
st tue
of a Luohan.Yuan dynasty
(c. 1271-1368).
Victoria
Albert Museum. London A.29 193 I).
Z
P R LES
Muddy Road
Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together
down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still
falling.
Coming
round
a bend, they met a lovely girl
in a silk kimono/ and sash, unable to cross the
intersection.
1.
Tanzan (tan'zari')
nd
Ekido (e-ke'do).
2. kimono n wide-sleeved robe, fastened with a sash;
part ofthe traditional costume for men and women
in Japan.
Come on, girl, said Tanzan at once. Lifting
her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.
Ekido did
no t
speak again until that night
when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no
longer could restrain himself. We monks don t
go near females, he told Tanzan, especially
no t
young ndlovely ones. is dangerous. Why did
you do that?
I left the girl there, said Tanzan. Are you
still carrying her?
en
arables
6
-
8/9/2019 Zen Parables
4/8
ragon n iger by Chao Kyoshi. Detail of a multi-panel
screen
. Edo
period
(19th century).
A Parable
Buddha told a parable in a sutra'
Aman traveling across a field encountered a
tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a
precipice, he caught hold
of
the root
of
a wild
vine
and
swung himselfdown over the edge. The
tiger sniffed at
him
from above. Trembling, the
man looked down to where, far below, another
tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine
sustained him.
Two mice, one white and one black, little
by little started to gnaw away the vine. The
man
saw a luscious strawberry near him.
Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the
strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted
3.
sutra
(soo'tr;) )
one
of
a collection
of
stories that describe the teachings of the
Buddha .
The Thief
Who
Became a Disciple
One evening as Shichiri Kojun was reciting
sutras a thiefwith a sharp sword entered,
demanding either his money or his life.
Shichiri told him: Do not disturb me. You
can find the money in that drawer.
Then
he
resumed his recitation.
A little while afterwards he stopped and
called: Don't take it all. I need some to pay
taxes with tomorrow.
The intruder gathered up
most
of the money
and started to leave. Thank a person when you
receive a gift, Shichiri added. The man thanked
him
and made off.
A few days afterwards the fellow was caught
and confessed, among others, the offense against
Shichiri.
When Shichiri was called as a witness
he said: This
man
is no thief, at least as far as I
am concerned. I gave him the
money
and he
thanked me for it.
After he
had
finished his prison term, the
man went to Shichiri and became his disciple.
The Taste of Banzo's Sword
Matajuro Yagyu'' was the son
of
a famous
swordsman. His father, believing
that
his son's
workwas too mediocre to anticipate mastership,
disowned him.
So Matajuro went to Mount Futara? and
there found the famous swordsman Banzo.?
But Banza confirmed the father's judgment.
You wish to learn swordsmanship under my
guidance? asked Banzo. You
cannot
fulfill
the requirements.
But if work hard, how many years will it
take me to become a master? persisted the youth.
The rest ofyour life, replied Banza.
I cannot wait that long, explained Mata
jura. I am willing to pass through any hardship
if onlyyou will teach me. If I become
your
devoted servant, how long might it be?
4. Shichiri Kojun (she-die' re ko'jan).
5. Matajuro Yagyu (ma-ta-jon' ro yag'oo).
6.
Mount
Futara (foo·ta'ra).
7. Banzo (ban'zo).
Literature
India China and Japan
-
8/9/2019 Zen Parables
5/8
ombat
of amurai
Warriors by Utagawa Hiroshige. Edo period (19th century).
Musee des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet , Paris.
Oh, maybe ten years, Banzo relented.
My father isgetting old, and soon I must take
care
of
him, continued Matajuro. IfI work far
more intensively, how long would it take me?
Oh, maybe thirty years, said Banzo,
Whyis that? asked Matajuro. First you say
ten and now thirty years. I will undergo any
hardship to master this art in the shortest time
Well, said Banzo, in that case you will have
to remain with me for seventy years. A man in
such a
hurry
as you are to get results seldom
learns quickly.
Very well, declared the youth, understand
ing at last that he was being rebuked for
impatience, I agree.
Matajuro was told never to speak
of
fencing
and never to touch a sword. He cooked for his
master, washed the dishes, made his bed,
cleaned the yard, cared for the garden, all
without a word
of
swordsmanship.
Three years passed. Still Matajuro labored on.
Thinking
of
his future, he was sad. He had not
even begun to learn the art to which he had
devoted his life.
But one day Banzo crept up behind him and
gavehim a terrific blow with a wooden sword.
The following day, when Matajuro was
cooking rice, Banzo again sprang upon him
unexpectedly.
After that, day
and
night, Matajuro had to
defend himself from unexpected thrusts. ota
moment passed in any day that he did not have
to think
of
the taste
of
Banzo's sword.
He learned so rapidly he brought smiles to
the face
of
his master. Matajuro became the
greatest swordsman in the land.
n r bles
7
-
8/9/2019 Zen Parables
6/8
CONNECTION to ZEN P R BLES
Zen Garden s Calming Effect
Due to
Subliminal Image?
Hillary Mayell
National eographic News September 25, 2002
[
INFORM TION L T XT
t s the kind of thing you simply have to
experience for yourself. Otherwise, the Zen
rock garden of the Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto,
Japan, a United Nations World Heritage site,
simply defies the imagination.
The garden, after all, has no
plants no
flowers, no trees, not even any weeds.
It s a 30- by 10-meter (roughly 98- by
32-foot) rectangle surrounded by earthen
walls on three sides
and
a wooden veranda
1
on the fourth. Inside the rectangle is a vista
of white pebbles
and
15rocks. And it isworld
famous for the peace and serenity anyone and
everyone who visits it feels.
Visual-imaging scientists in Japan say
they ve figured
ou t
what it is about the garden
that
engenders/ this serenity. The secret: The
more than 500-year-old garden is harboring a
subliminal. message in the form of a tree.
Zen Meditation
and
Rock Gardens
The Ryoanji Temple (Temple of the Peaceful
Dragon) is a Zen place of worship and medita
tion first built sometime during the 1450s.It
burned when most of Kyoto was leveled by fire
during the ninWars,
and
was rebuilt in 1486.
The rock garden, which fronts the abbot s?
1. veranda
(vo-ran da)
.:
porch with a roof.
2.
engenders
(en-jeri darz) v causes.
3. subliminal (sub -lim a-nol) dj meant to affect
one s subconscious.
4.
abbot
(ab ot)
n head of a monastery.
quarters, was laid out around this time as a
place for the monks to meditate.
Thought by many to be the quintessences of
Zen art , the garden is in the dry landscape style
called Karesansui ( withered landscape ).
The garden s 15 rocks are
of
various sizes,
placed in fiveseparate groupings. The white
gravel that surrounds them is raked every day;
perfect circles around the rocks, perfectly
straight lines in the rest of the space. The rocks
are arranged so that no matter where a visitor
stands, only 14 can be seen. It is said that only
when you attain spiritual enlightenment asa
result of Zen meditation will you see the 15th
stone.
Over the centuries, various explanations for
the garden s layout have been given: That the
white gravel represents the ocean and the rocks
the islands of Japan;
that
they represent a
mother
tiger and
her
cubs, swimming in the
river of the white sand toward a fearful
dragon; or that the rocks represent the Chinese
symbol for heart or mind.
Unconscious
Eye
However, it s the empty space created by the
placement of the rocks and the void created by
the white gravel that has long intrigued visitors.
Now the mystery may have been resolved.
Gert van Tonder, a postdoctoral fellowof the
Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science
5. quintessence (kwin-tes ans) n perfect example
of
a thing.
8 literature of India hina and Japan
-
8/9/2019 Zen Parables
7/8
Rock garden at Ryoanji Temple Kyoto
at Kyoto University,
and
Michael
Ly
on
s, a
seni
or
scientist at ATR Media
Information
Labs
in Kyoto, applied a shape-analysis technique
that can reveal hidden
structural
features to the
garden s empty space.
Earli er studies of how
humans
and other
primates process visual images suggest
that
we
have an
uncon
scious sensitivity to the medial
axis of sha pes,said van Tonder.
Imagine starting two fires in a field of
dry
grass: he said .
Where
the fires meet at
point
s
equidist
an t betw
een
the
two starting locations,
is the medi al axis.
His analysis indicates
th
at
the
same uncon
scious sensitivity is able to d iscern the image
of
a trunk
and bran
ches of a
tr
ee
within
the Zen
garden s pattern of rocks
and
ston es. Viewed
from th e veranda, the image is apparent to the
subconscious bu t is invisible to th e eye.
The author
s
conclude
in a
report
published
in the September 26 issue of the journal ture
that the unconscious perception of this pattern
is
the
source of
the
gard en s calming effect.
If
the
rocks were to be rearranged , the invis-
ible tree structure is lost , they say.
Van Tonder believes the garden s designer
intended
to create
the sublimin
al feature
demonstrating an understanding of the
physics
of
the human eye
and
subconscious
hundred
s
of
years ago .
n
According
to the
article, what might be the
U secret behind the calming effect of the
Zen garden at Ryoanji Temple? How does the
writer
of this article use details
to
help you
unde rstand
the
layout of
the
Zen garden?
n r bles
9
-
8/9/2019 Zen Parables
8/8
Response and nalysis
•
NT RN T
Projects
and
Activities
Keyword
LE5
WL
iterary
kills
Analyze
parables.
riting kills
Write a parable.
istening
nd
pe king
kills
Act
out
a
parable.
Reading Check
I.
ho
are
Tanzan and
Ekido
For what
does Ekido criticize Tanzan in Muddy
Road ?
2. Name all the dangers that
the
man in A
Parable faces.
3. In The Thief
ho
Became a Disciple,
what does Shichiritestify in court?
4. In The Taste of Banzo s Sword, why
does Matajuro become sad working with
the master
Banzo
Thinking
Critically
5. In Muddy Road, what does Tanzan
mean when he asks Ekido ifhe isstill
carrying
the
girl
6. In A Parable, what might the precipice,
the tigers , and the mice
symbolize or
stand for?
hat
is
the
significance of the
man eating
the
strawberry?
hat
lesson
about lifedo you think this parable
teaches?
7. Why do you think
the
thief becomes the
disciple of Shichiri Kojun? hatvalues
does this parable teach?
8. Describe Banzo s unconventional teach-
ingmethods.
ha t
do you think he is
teaching Matajuro about the ar t of
swordsmanship?
Extending
and Evaluating
9. Are any
ofthe
lessons inthese Zen
parables similar
to
lessons instories that
you know? Review
the
list you made for
your Quickwrite response.
WRITING
Writing
a
Parable
ManyZen parables contain a
paradox or
apparent contradiction
that
is actually
true
.
Think
about
how a seeming contradiction
can ultimately prove true. Then, write a
brief parable of
your
own about one of
the
following paradoxical situations:
• a competition that iswon through losing
• a person who becomes rich bygiving
something away
• an enemy
who
becomes a friend when he
or she is trusted
• a difficult task
that
becomes easy once a
person stops trying so hard
• a scary situation that changes when a
person stops feeling fear
LIST NING AND SP KING
Acting
Out
a Parable
Pair off with
another
student, and adapt
one
of
the
Zen parables you ve just read
to
a
modern setting and situation without losing
its moral. For instance, you could adapt The
Taste of Banzo s Sword by making Banzo
a basketball coach
who
teaches his students
by throwing balls at
them
when they least
expect it. Then, with
your
partner, create a
script for your dramatization, and act ou t
your parable for
the
class.
7
Literature of India. China. and Japan