Mustard Seed- a different perspective

[rudemonk]

Re: Mustard Seed- a different perspective

yeah I was gonna run it longside the solomon story but as you point out the ends aren't quite dealing with the same thing so...

this one hits on a few levels so I thought I would just throw it out there and let it float.

some say the cat represents duality and so because the monks- unawakened - could not answer they were destined to stay with the two halves of the cat, as they never perceived a whole cat to start. until the sword was lifted everyone was full up of words and saying them, but when confronted fell silent.

there is a commentary on this but it's a little dense so I left it out.

[rudemonk]

Re: Mustard Seed- a different perspective

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mokurai, the Zen master at Kennin temple in Kyoto, was always being visited by an illiterate tubmaker, often the man would come, have tea, and pester Mokurai with foolish questions, then go away.

One day the tubmaker came while Mokurai was sitting with one of his disciples and he was instructing him privately. A master and a disciple are bonded by oaths and vows and the relationship is often one like father and son. So Mokurai asked the tubmaker if he could have some time alone to teach his disciple.

'I know that you are a living Buddha,&quot; said the tubmaker. &quot;Yet, even these stone Buddhas do not refuse the numerous people who come before them. Why then, should I be excluded.&quot;
</div></div>

[Diplomat]

Re: Mustard Seed- a different perspective

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A master and a disciple are bonded by oaths and vows and the relationship is often one like father and son.</div></div>
Cool; same as in Christianity.

[Diplomat]

Re: Mustard Seed- a different perspective

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: monk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
<span style="font-style: italic">During the Tang Dynasty, there was a man named Li Bo who just loved to study. Because he had read over 10,000 books, people called him Li of Ten Thousand Volumes.
One day he asked the monk Zhishang:
“There is a passage in the Vimalakirtinirdesa which says ‘Mount Sumeru can be inserted into a mustard seed.’ How could such a big mountain possibly fit into a tiny mustard seed?”
The monk replied: “You are called Li of Ten Thousand Volumes, how could those ten thousand volumes fit into your tiny skull?”</span> </div></div>
That's good

[rudemonk]

Re: Mustard Seed- a different perspective

<span style="font-style: italic">One evening as the master was reciting sutras a thief with a sharp sword entered, demanding either money or his life.

The master 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,” the master added. The man thanked him and made off.

A few days afterwards the fellow was caught and confessed, among others, the offence against the master. When the master was called as a witness he said: “This man is no thief, at least as far as I am concerned. I gave him money and he thanked me for it.”

After he had finished his prison term, the man went to the master and became his disciple.</span>


for comparison:

Matthew:
<span style="font-weight: bold">But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
[40] And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
[41] And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
[42] Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
[46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
[47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.</span>

[rudemonk]

Re: Mustard Seed- a different perspective

The Gospel of Thomas:

<span style="font-style: italic">Jesus addressed his disciples:
Compare me to someone. Tell me whom I resemble.
Simon Peter said: &quot;Like a just Angel.&quot;

Another one, called Matthew, answered: &quot;Like a wise philosopher.&quot;

But Thomas replied: &quot;Truly Master, my mouth can not bring itself to utter any comparisons.&quot;

AND Jesus said: &quot;I am no longer your master. You have drunk from the bubbling fountain which i brought, and you are drunk.&quot;

He took Thomas aside, and said three words to him.

When Thomas returned, his companions pressed him and asked:
&quot;Now tell us, what did Jesus tell you?&quot;

And he replied: &quot;If i related even one of the words he told me, you would gather stones, and hurl them at me, whereupon fire would leap from the stones, and burn you.&quot;</span>

The Transmission of the Dharma to Hui Ke:

<span style="font-weight: bold">Bodhidharma prepared to leave Shaolin. He called his four disciples together and said, &quot;Tomorrow I plan to return to the Himalayas. Can each of you say something to demonstrate your understanding of the teaching? This person will be my successor.”

Dao Fu came forward and said, “In my opinion, truth is beyond affirmation or negation. It is not bound by words and phrases, nor is it separate from words and phrases. This is the function of the Tao.”

Bodhidharma: “You are not wrong, but this does not satisfy me. You have attained my skin.”

The nun Zong Chi stepped up and said, “It is like Ananda, seeing a glorious glimpse of the Buddha-land, seen once, and forever.”

Bodhidharma said, “You have attained my flesh.”

Dao Yu said, “The four elements are all empty. The five skandhas are without actual existence. Not a single dharma can be grasped.”

Bodhidharma said, “Mmm. You have attained my bones.”

Finally, his first disciple, named Huike, came forth. He only had one arm, having sacrificed a part of himself when Damo first received him as a disciple.

He came forward, bowed deeply before Damo, then stood up straight.

Bodhidharma looked on Huike and spoke. “Very good Hui Ke. You have it. You have attained my marrow.”

Thus was Damo's robe and bowl passed to Hui Ke. In the night, Damo was poisoned. Later, after he had been buried, he was seen returning to India with his one sandal tied to his staff.</span>