This is a beautiful Zen story. One day Ejo, (meaning solitary cloud) called on the zen master, Dogen. Dogen cited the saying, ”one hair pierces myriad holes,” to question him closely. Ejo trusted in Dogen and surrendered to him. After that, he had no desire to go anywhere else, so he changed his robe and stayed there.
Before long, Dogen moved to another place and Ejo went along with him.
One day, as he was setting out his bowl, he suddenly attained enlightenment, and immediately went with full ceremony into Dogen’s room.
Dogen asked him, ”what have you understood?”
Ejo said, ”I do not ask about the one hair; what are the myriad holes?”
Dogen laughed and said, ”pierced.”
Ejo bowed. Afterwards, he asked to serve as Dogen’s personal attendant, taking care of his robes and bowl.
