The Taste of Banzo's Sword

[Guest guest]

"Matajuro Yagyu was the son of a famous swordsman.

His father, believing that his son's work was

too mediocre to anticipate mastership, disowned

him.

 

So Matajuro went to Mount Futara and there

found the famous swordsman Banzo. But Banzo

confirmed the father's judgement. '"You wish to

learn swordsmanship under my guidance?"' asked

Banzo. '"You cannot fulfil the requirements."'

 

'"But if I work hard, how many years will it take

me to become a master?"' persisted the youth.

 

'"The rest of your life,"' replied Banzo.

 

'"I cannot wait that long."' explained Matajuro.

'"I am willing to pass through any hardship if only

you will teach me. If I become your devoted servant,

how long might it be?"'

 

'"Oh, maybe ten years,"' Banzo relented.

 

'"My father is getting old, and soon I must take

care of him,"' continued Matajuro. '"If I work far

more intensively, how long would it take me?"'

 

'"Oh, maybe thirty years,"' said Banzo.

 

'"Why is that?"' asked Matajuro. '"First you say

ten and now thirty years. I will undergo any

hardship to master this art in the shortest time!"'

 

'"Well,"' said Banzo, '"in that case you will have

to remain with me for seventy years. A man in

such a hurry as you are to get results seldom

learns quickly."'

 

'"Very well,"' declared the youth, understanding

at last that he was being rebuked for impatience,

'"I agree."'

 

Matajuro was told never to speak of fencing

and never to touch a sword. He cooked for his

master, washed the dishes, made his bed, cleaned

the yard, cared for the garden, all without a word

of swordsmanship.

 

Three years passed. Still Matajuro labored on.

Thinking of his future, he was sad. He had not

even begun to learn the art to which he had

devoted his life.

 

But one day Banzo crept up behind him and

gave him a terrific blow with a wooden sword.

 

The following day when Matajuro was cooking

rice, Banzo again sprang upon him

unexpectedly.

 

After that, day and night, Matajuro had to defend

himself from unexpected thrusts. Not a moment

passed in any day that he did not have to

think of the taste of Banzo's sword.

 

He learned so rapidly he brought smiles to the

face of his master. Matajuro became the greatest

swordsman in the land."

 

 

 

 

LoveAlways,

 

Mazie

[Guest guest]

, "mazie_l" <sraddha54@h...> wrote:

 

After that, day and night, Matajuro had to defend

himself from unexpected thrusts. Not a moment

passed in any day that he did not have to

think of the taste of Banzo's sword.

 

 

i have been considering how to respond to this

while delightedly devouring the pita sandwich

you packed in my lunch bag. It was good.

i did not necessarily expect a crazy zen swordsman

to creep up on me from behind, and so my digestion proceeds

harmoniously. Nevertheless, and all things being

as they are, whatever they may be, and whenever they may

appear to be what they appear to be or not, there is

commonly something felt to be hanging over us, and

we can perceive, perhaps, that we are all Banzos on this

bus, sneaking up on ourselves with the little impulses to

somehow change our state, to have things be other than what

they are, even though we have no clue as to what they are, and

even as what they are dissolves in our attention, pushed aside by

what they have become, which could be anything, really, on this bus.

 

Mira Pagal got off the bus one day.

She just couldn't go any further down that road.

Are we on or off the bus?

Are Neal & Ken & Jack the K still trading places at the wheel,

or is it Banzo (looking very much like Jerry Garcia with a guitar

for a sword)who's driving us into ourselves for some new

electric koolade acid test? A test of where we still stick, stuck

in what muck, ducks decked out on water trucks, out of luck, but

what the heck -- so few these days will risk their neck to Banzo's

laughing blade parade!

 

So what am i saying?

Don't make a fuss, but

watch out for that van, it

just might be a bust bus!

 

Melon Bones,

 

b

[Guest guest]

Yes, this is a famous Zen teaching story...

It is often quoted by D.T. Suzuki, and I think there is a parallel in

"Zen and The Art of Archery" by Eugen Herrigel, a favorite Zen text.

I also like the story of the angry Samurai:

A proud Samurai warrior during the Meiji Dynasty, traveled from Edo

(the Capital) on business for the Emperor. During his journey, he

learned of an esteemed Zen Master, reputed to be of surpassing

wisdom.

One of the tasks the Emperor had requested of this Samurai was to

discover the nature of "Heaven and Hell." The Emperor wanted to know

if they were real.

Upon meeting this Zen Master, the Samurai bowed and described his

desire to know if there was such a thing as "Heaven" or "Hell."

The Zen master nodded slightly to indicate that he understood the

question. Long moments passed. The Samurai finally asked "Well?"

The Zen Master cleared his throat and replied,"I don't think you would understand the answer."

The Samurai reddened, but remained composed.

"I am willing to study. I can learn. I am a Samurai for the Emperor

himself!" he said with great emphasis.

"Ah. Indeed. I think you are just an arrogant man with a bad

attitude. You could never learn from me," The Zen Master replied.

With that, the Samurai became enraged. He had been humiliated in

front of dozens of curious villagers. His hand leapt to the pommel

of his Samurai sword, and he began to draw the blade from the

scabbard.

"That!" cried the Zen Master, "That is Hell!" he pointed straight at

the wicked shining blade and the arm of the Samurai.

The Samurai paused, perplexed. Slowly his anger faded, and a strange

smile crept upon his face. His arm relaxed and the sword returned to

its resting position.

"That...now THAT is Heaven!" The Zen Master proclaimed.

The Samurai became his devoted student, left the court of the Emporer

and became one of the most revered Zen Teachers of the Meiji Period.

Blessings,

Zenbob

[Guest guest]

that's one of my favourite stories.

 

thanks for reminding me.

 

--janpa