There is a tradition in Japan to go on pilgrimage, to study with other teachers, to experience other temples. Sometimes for a night, a day, a week, or even years. So we have this natural tradition of many Zen Men Walking.
One such Zen Man was a traveling monk going from temple to temple looking for a new master. He came upon a dilapidated temple, up on a hill. It was getting dark and looked like rain so he'd thought it would be nice to be inside tonight, and something seemed to be drawing him to the temple.
He climbed the hill and came up to the gate. He banged loudly on the gate and waited. It was quite sometime, but eventually he heard the gate being opened. On the other side stood two men. One was smiling and radiant, obviously an enlightened master; but the other (who was holding the gate) was a one eyed man who was obviously not mentally fit.
The traveling monk, after seeing this masters smile, really wanted to stay; and asked, 'If possible I'd really like to stay the night (but with hopes he might be able to stay and train with this radiant master).' The Master answered, 'Well, it is only my assistant and I here, so with only the two of us, we have plenty of room for you to stay. But we have a tradition in this temple that in order to stay you must win a debate on the Dharma.' The traveling monk had no trouble with this condition, and said so. The Master liked this traveling monk and really wanted him to win, in fact he hoped the monk might stay for many years and perhaps be his successor.
The Master thought, if I debate with him and I win he will have to leave; or if I debate with him and he wins, why should he stay. But if I have him debate with my slow friend he will surely win and stay; but to not make his plan too obvious, the Master said, 'I am tired and it's time for my nightly rituals before I retire, so you will have your debate with my assistant. But to make it interesting you will have your exchange silently, in sign language' With that the Master retired to his quarters to await the arrival of the traveling monk.
After a short time the monk arrived, but he was a little pale. The Master asked what was the matter. The monk said, your assistant is quite amazing; we had our dharma exchange and he soundly beat me.' The Master was very surprised and asked what had happened. The monk replied, 'Well, I held up one finger to indicate the Buddha; but your assistant held up two fingers to indicate the Buddha and the Dharma; so I held up three fingers to represent the three treasures of: the Buddha, The Teaching, and The Buddhist Community; he then held up a fist to show that they are really all one. There is no answer to this reality, so I had to accept my defeat at his hands. Therefore, though I had really hoped to stay, I lost; so I must leave.' Just as the monk left, the assistant crashed into the Masters room, 'Where is he?! Where is he?!' 'Calm down', said the Master, 'He has left. But tell me, what happened?' 'Well,' said the assistant, 'He was the guest, so I let him begin; he held up one finger to make fun of my one eye; but I wanted to still be nice, so I held up two fingers to show that he was lucky to have two eyes; But then he held up 3 fingers to taunt me again that between us we only had 3 eyes; so I held up my fist to wallop him, but he ran in here for your protection... It's a shame he's gone though, before he taunted me, I kind of liked him.'
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