ZEN MASTER NANGAKU ONCE MORE SENT THE ATTENDANT MONK TO SEKITO TO ASK HIM A QUESTION. ON ARRIVAL, THE MONK ASKED SEKITO, ”WHAT IS LIBERATION?”
SEKITO SAID, ”WHO BOUND YOU?”
THE MONK ASKED, ”WHAT IS THE PURE LAND?”
SEKITO RESPONDED, ”WHO MADE YOU DIRTY?”
THE MONK ASKED, ”WHAT IS NIRVANA?”
”WHO GAVE YOU BIRTH AND DEATH?” SEKITO REPLIED.
THE ATTENDANT MONK CAME BACK TO NANGAKU AND REPORTED SEKITO’S ANSWERS.
NANGAKU PUT BOTH HANDS TOGETHER AND MADE A GESTURE OF TOUCHING HIS FEET.
AT THAT TIME, KENGO, RAN AND NANGAKU WERE THOUGHT TO BE THE THREE MASTERS
IN THE COUNTRY, AND ALL THREE OF THEM SAID, ”FROM THE STONE-HEAD COMES THE LION’S ROAR TO MY EAR.”
THE MONK WENT BACK TO SEKITO AND SAID THAT, IF THERE WERE ANYTHING THE MONK COULD DO FOR HIM, TO LET HIM KNOW. A LITTLE LATER, THE MASTER, NANGAKU, CAME WITH HIS MONKS TO SEE SEKITO. SEKITO STOOD UP TO RECEIVE HIM, AND THE TWO GREETED EACH OTHER. LATER, NANGAKU HAD A TEMPLE BUILT FOR SEKITO’S
CONVENIENCE.
