The Grass Grows by Itself ~ 08
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| event type | discourse |
| date & time | 28 Feb 1975 am |
| location | Chuang Tzu Auditorium, Poona |
| language | English |
| audio | Available, duration 1h 32min. Quality: good. |
| online audio | |
| video | Not available |
| online video | |
| see also |
|
| online text | find the PDF of this discourse |
| shorttitle | GRASS08 |
- notes
- synopsis
- Reader of the sutras: Sw Ananda Teertha.
- The sutra
- Ninagawa-Shinzaemon, a linked-verse poet, and devotee of Zen, desired to become a disciple of the remarkable master, Ikkyu, who was abbot of the Daitokuji in Murasakino -- a violet field.
- He called upon Ikkyu, and the following dialogue took place at the temple entrance.
- Ikkyu: Who are you?
- Ninagawa: A devotee of Buddhism.
- Ikkyu: You are from?
- Ninagawa: Your region.
- Ikkyu: Ah. And what's happening there these days?
- Ninagawa: The crows caw, the sparrows twitter.
- Ikkyu: And where do you think you are now?
- Ninagawa: In a field dyed deep violet.
- Ikkyu: Why?
- Ninagawa: Miscanthus, morning glories, safflowers, chrysanthemums, asters.
- Ikkyu: And after they're gone?
- Ninagawa: It is Miyagino -- the field of Autumn flowering.
- Ikkyu: What happens in that field?
- Ninagawa: The stream flows through, the wind sweeps over.
- Amazed at Ninagawa's Zen-like speech, Ikkyu led him to his room and served him tea. Then he spoke this impromptu verse:
- I want to serve
- You delicacies.
- Alas! The Zen sect
- Can offer nothing.
- At which the visitor replied:
- The mind which treats me
- To nothing is the original void --
- A delicacy of delicacies.
- Deeply moved, the master said:
- My son, you have learned much.
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