Quotation

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

a Collection of Zen and pre-Zen Writings
MOKUSEN HIKI was living in a temple in the province of Tamba. One of his adherents complained of the stinginess of his wife. Mokusen visited the adherent’s wife and showed her his clenched fist before her face. ”What do you mean by that?“ asked the surprised woman. ”Suppose my fist were always like that. What would you call it?“ he asked. ”Deformed,“ replied the woman. Then he opened his hand flat in her face and asked: “Suppose it were always like that. What then?“ “Another kind of deformity,“ said the wife. ”If you understand that much,“ finished Mokusen, “you are a good wife.” Then he left. === SUBHUTI WAS Buddha’s disciple. He was able to understand the potency of emptiness, the viewpoint that nothing exists except in its relationship of subjectivity and objectivity.