A man came to a Zen master and asked, “I
would like to become a Buddha.” And the master hit him hard.
The man was puzzled. He went out and asked
some old disciple, “What kind of man is this? I asked such a simple question
and he got so angry. He hit me hard! My cheek is still burning. Is it wrong to
ask how to become a Buddha? This man seems to be very cruel and violent!” And
the disciple laughed. He said, “You don’t understand his compassion. It is out
of his compassion that he has hit you hard. And he is old, ninety years old;
just think of his hand – it will be burning more than your cheek! You are young.
Think of his compassion, you fool! Go back!” But the man asked, “But what is
the message in it?” And the disciple said. “The message is simple. If a Buddha
comes and asks how to become a Buddha, what else is there to do? You can hit
him and make him aware that you are it. What nonsense you are talking about!”
If a rosebush starts trying to become a rosebush, it will go mad. It is already
the rosebush. You may have forgotten. Zen says you are in a state of slumber,
you have forgotten who you are, that’s all. Nothing has to be done, just a
remembrance. That’s what Nanak calls surati, Kabir calls surati – just a
remembrance. You have only to remember who you are!
Surekha Kothari
surekhakothari.wordpress.com
Speakingtree Blog: www.speakingtree.in/public/surekhakothari
