A very long time ago in
China there lived a monk named Qen. During his training years in a
monastery he practiced very diligently. But, despite all his efforts
he did not realize Awakening, Enlightenment.
One day Qen's master
ordered him to carry a letter to a distant monastery. The monastery
was very far away and the round trip would take a year.
The monk Qen thought, “I
don't have forever to stay in this Dharma Hall practicing meditation.
I don't have the time to go on this errand.”
He consulted one of the
senior monks in the monastery, a man named Genjoza.
Genjoza laughed when he
heard what was bothering Qen.
“Even while you travel
you can still practice Zen,” Genjoza said. “I'll travel with
you.”
Several days later, after
all preparations were made, the two monks set out on their long
journey.
One day, after a month on
the road, Qen suddenly broke into tears. “I've been practicing for
many years and I still haven't been able to realize anything. Now
here I am roaming around the countryside on this trip to deliver a
letter. There's no way I'm going to realize Enlightenment.”
When he heard this, the
older monk Genjoza said, “I will take care of everything that I can
take care of for you on this trip. But there are five things I can't
do for you.
“I can't wear your
clothes for you. I can't eat for you. I can't shit for you. I can't
piss for you. And I can't carry your body around and live your life
for you.”
When the monk Qen heard
these words he suddenly awoke from his delusions and realized
Awakening, Enlightenment.”
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