Zen in a Beggar’s Life

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Tosui was a well-known Zen teacher of his time. He had lived in several temples and taught in various provinces.
The last temple he visited accumulated so many adherents that Tosui told them he was going to quit the lecture business entirely. He advised them to disperse and go wherever they desired. After that no one could find any trace of him.
Three years later one of his disciples discovered him living with some beggars under a bridge in Kyoto. He at once implored Tosui to teach him.
“If you can do as I do for even a couple days, I might,” Tosui replied.
So the former disciple dressed as a beggar and spent the day with Tosui. The following day one of the beggars died. Tosui and his pupil carried the body off at midnight and buried it on a mountainside. After that they returned to their shelter under the bridge.
Tosui slept soundly the remainder of the night, but the disciple could not sleep. When morning came Tosui said: “We do not have to beg food today. Our dead friend has left some over there.” But the disciple was unable to eat a single bite of it.
“I have said you could not do as I,” concluded Tosui. “Get out of here and do not bother me again.”

(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)

Zen dalam Kehidupan Pengemis

Tosui adalah guru Zen termashur di jamannya. Dia tinggal di beberapa biara dan mengajar di berbagai propinsi.
Biara terakhir yang dia kunjungi mengumpulkan begitu banyak pengikut sehingga Tosui mengumumkan bahwa dia akan berhenti mengajar secara total. Dia menganjurkan mereka untuk berpencar dan pergi kemana mereka mau. Setelah itu, tak seorangpun berhasil menemukan jejaknya.
Tiga tahun kemudian, seorang muridnya menemukannya tinggal dengan para pengemis di kolong sebuah jembatan di Kyoto. Langsung saja ia segera memohon Tosui untuk mengajarkannya.
"Jika kamu dapat melakukan seperti apa yang saya lakukan selama beberapa hari saja, saya kabulkan permintaanmu," jawab Tosui.
Demikianlah, murid lamanya ini berganti pakaian sebagai pengemis dan menjalani hari bersama Tosui. Keesokan harinya, seorang pengemis meninggal. Tosui dan muridnya membawa mayatnya pada tengah malam dan menguburkannya di sisi gunung. Setelah selesai mereka kembali ke kolong jembatan.
Tosui tidur mendengkur, tetapi muridnya tak dapat tidur. Pada pagi harinya Tosui berkata, "Kita tidak perlu mengemis makanan hari ini. Teman kita yang meninggal mempunyai sisa makanan di sana." Tapi si murid tak dapat memakannya bahkan untuk sesuap pun.
"Sudah saya katakan," ucap Tosui. "Pergilah dari sini dan jangan ganggu aku lagi."