Learning to Be Silent

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The pupils of the Tendai school used to study meditation before Zen entered Japan. Four of them who were intimate friends promised one another to observe seven days of silence.

On the first day all were silent. Their meditation had begun auspiciously, but when night came and the oil lamps were growing dim one of the pupils could not help exclaiming to a servant: "Fix those lamps."

The second pupils was surprised to hear the first one talk. "We are not supposed to say a word," he remarked.

"You two are stupid. Why did you talk?" asked the third.

"I am the only one who has not talked," concluded the fourth pupil.

(Paul Reps & Nyogen Senzaki, "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones")

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quote:

Many people, in admonishing others and pointing out their errors, very likely are themselves fallible.

(Tsai Chih Chung, "The Book of Zen Freedom of The Mind")

Berlatih Hening

Para siswa sekolah Tendai terbiasa belajar meditasi sebelum zen masuk ke Jepang. Empat orang siswa sepakat untuk melakukan latihan meditasi hening selama tujuh hari.

Hari pertama semuanya hening. Meditasi berjalan lancar, tetapi ketika malam tiba lampu minyak meredup. Seorang siswa tiba-tiba memanggil pelayan, "Perbaiki lampunya."

Siswa yang kedua terkejut mendengar ini dan berkata, "Kita seharusnya tidak bicara sepatah katapun."

Tanya yang ketiga, "Kamu berdua bodoh. Kenapa kalian berbicara?"

Siswa keempat menutup, "Sayalah satu-satunya yang tidak bicara."

(Paul Reps & Nyogen Senzaki, "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones")

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kutipan:

Banyak orang, di dalam menasehati orang dan menunjukkan kesalahan mereka, seringkali melakukan kesalahan yang sama.

(Tsai Chih Chung, "Zen Membebaskan Pikiran")