No Loving-Kindness (a Zen story)

Post sayings or stories from Buddhist traditions which you find interesting, inspiring or useful. (Your own stories are welcome on DW, but in the Creative Writing or Personal Experience forums rather than here.)
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retrofuturist
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No Loving-Kindness (a Zen story)

Post by retrofuturist »

A story, taken from the classic Zen Flesh, Zen Bones...

No Loving-Kindness

There was an old woman in China who had supported a monk for over twenty years. She had built a little hut for him and fed him while he was meditating. Finally she wondered just what progress he had made in all this time.

To find out, she obtained the help of a girl rich in desire. "Go and embrace him", she told her, "and then ask him suddenly: 'What now?'"

The girl called upon the monk and without much ado caressed him, asking what he was going to do about it.

"An old tree grows on a cold rock in Winter", replied the monk somewhat poetically. "Nowhere is there any warmth."

The girl returned an related what he had said.

"To think I fed that fellow for twenty years!" exclaimed the old woman in anger. "He showed no consideration for your need, no disposition to explain your condition. He need not have responded to passion, but at least he should have evidenced some compassion"

She at once went to the hunt of the monk and burned it down.
Live in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, blending like milk and water, viewing each other with kindly eyes.
thornbush
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Re: No Loving-Kindness (a Zen story)

Post by thornbush »

Poor monk.... :rolling:
genkaku
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Re: No Loving-Kindness (a Zen story)

Post by genkaku »

Yes, what a jackass I have been.
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retrofuturist
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Re: No Loving-Kindness (a Zen story)

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

"Love adds the element of warmth and vitality to the spiritual life. It kindles the flame of devotion, coming to expression in acts of dedicated service by which we seek to extend the protective and liberative capacity of the threefold refuge to others" - Bhikkhu Bodhi

Metta,
Retro. :)
Live in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, blending like milk and water, viewing each other with kindly eyes.
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avisitor
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Re: No Loving-Kindness (a Zen story)

Post by avisitor »

Old topic from 2009.

Really do like this story
Shows the level of understanding of the monk and the level of understanding of the old lady.
The old lady believes that all she had done for the monk was wasted cause he showed no compassion
The monk believes all the woman's desires are wasted since there is no love
It gets burnt to the ground as if kindness is a possession that can be taken away

The monk took the kindness from the old lady who had no love to give
And the young woman gave kindness with no love also which he rejected
And thus, "No Loving-Kindness"
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