The sun softened the
morning haze
While birds
playfully pranced about,
Enjoying the warmth
from the sun's gentle rays.
Morning meditation
ended.
The master excused
the monks to do
Their duties. A
novice stayed behind
To ask for a private
interview.
"I
understand," he said, "that it's
Time for us to do
our chores,
But I have an urgent
problem.
Can we speak behind
closed doors?"
They entered the dokusan chamber where
Regular interviews
took place.
The novice closed
the door to the chamber.
There they sat, face
to face.
The novice said,
"I don't know
What to do. I'm
bored to death
With daily
meditation sessions.
I'm SO tired of
watching my breath!"
The master nodded
his head and replied,
"Bored, you
say. Hmmm. I see."
He stood up, walked
to the door,
Turned and said,
"Come with me."
He led the monk to
the river's edge.
There he grabbed him
by the head
And held it under
the rushing water
Until the young
monk’s face turned red.
The novice squirmed
and flailed his arms,
"I am going to
drown!" he thought.
When the master
freed him, the monk
Gasped for air,
feeling distraught.
Admitting that his
strategies
Were such that some
would disallow,
The master said to
the monk, “Tell me:
Are you bored with
your breath right now?"
-by Bob B (4-1-19)
*An old Zen anecdote retold here in verse
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