Charge of Cooking
Seppo came to Tokusan and became in charge of cooking food. One day, the lunch was late. Tokusan came down to the hall carrying his bowls. Seppo said, “Old Master, the bell has not yet rung nor the drum sounded. Where are you going with your bowls?” There upon Tokusan went back to his room. Seppo told this to Ganto. Ganto said, “Great Tokusan
though he is, he has not yet realized the last word.”
Hearing of this, Tokusan sent his attendant to summon Ganto and then asked him, “Don’t you approve of this old monk?” Ganto whispered his intention. Tokusan remained silent.
Sure enough, the next day, when Tokusan ascended the rostrum, his talk was quite different from usual. Ganto, rubbing his hands together, laughed and said, “Wonderful! How happy I am that our Old Man has realized the last word. From now on he’ll be subject to no one on earth.”
Dharma-body
Sozan asked Elder Toku, “‘The true Dharma-body of Buddha is like the empty sky. It manifests its form corresponding to things — just like the moon on the water.’ How do you explain the principle of this corresponding?” Toku said, “It is like a donkey looking into a well.” Sozan said, “You put it in a nice way, but you were able to say only eighty percent.”
Toku said, “How about you, Master?” Sozan said, “It is like a well looking at a donkey.”
Great Mercy
Ungan asked Dogo, “What does the Bodhisattva of the Great Mercy use so many hands and eyes for?” Dogo answered, “It is like a person in the middle of the night reaching with his hand behind his head groping for his pillow.” Ungan said, “I understood.” Dogo said, “How did you understand it?” Ungan said, “The whole body is hands and eyes.” Dogo said, “You said it very well. But you expressed only eight-tenths of it.” Ungan said, “How would you say it, Elder Brother?” Dogo said, “The entire body is hands and eyes.”
