True Friends

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A long time ago in China there were two friends, one who played the harp skilfully and one who listen skillfully.
When the one played or sang about a mountain, the other would say: “I can see the mountain before us.”
When the one played about water, the listener would exclaim: “Here is the running stream!”
But the listener fell sick and died. The first friend cut the strings of his harp and never played again. Since that time the cutting of harp strings has always been a sign of intimate friendship.

(This story can be found in a book entitled Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, a translation of a 13th century work entitled Collection of Stone and Sand)
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Quote:
A friend after one's own heart is hard to find. After the death of his good friend, although he still hale and hearty, it was as if half of him had departed.
(Tsai Chih Chung, "The Book of Zen Freedom of The Mind", Asiapac Books, 1990)


Sahabat Sejati

Dahulu sekali di negeri Cina terdapat 2 orang yang bersahabat, yang satu mahir memetik harpa dan yang satu mahir mendengarkan. Ketika yang satu memainkan musik tentang pegunungan, yang satu akan berkata, "Tampak pegunungan di hadapan kita."
Ketika yang satu memainkan musik tentang air, yang satu akan berkata, "Arus yang menghanyutkan !"

Tetapi kemudian si pendengar jatuh sakit dan meninggal. Temannya memotong senar harpanya dan tidak pernah memainkannya lagi. Sejak saat itu memotong senar harpa menjadi simbol persahabatan yang akrab. 

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Kutipan:
Sahabat di dalam hati susah didapat. Setelah kematian sahabat baiknya, meskipun ia masih bernafas dan hidup, seolah-olah sebagian darinya telah pergi.
(Tsai Chih Chung, "Zen Membebaskan Pikiran", Penerbit Karaniya, 1991)