Equanimity of Hakuin exemplifies "Sound of One Hand Clapping"

[Guest guest]

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> --- Zen Master Hakuin originated the Koan of "The Sound of One Hand

> Clapping". It goes without saying, that if you understand another

of

> his Koans, you will understand the first: "The horned rabbit and

the

> furry turtle cross to nowhere mountain" ....Hakuin

> > ---

> > > > Find out at http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_049

> >

> > If you understand the following story, you will understand the

horned rabbit

> and the furry turtle (and then you will understand the Sound of One

> Hand Clapping...and so on):

> >

> > Zen Master Hakuin's Equanimity

> >

> > The Zen Master Hakuin (1686-1769) travelled extensively to learn

> from

> > other masters.

> > When he was 32 years old, he returned to the Shoin-ji, the temple

> in

> > his home town of Hara,

> > in present-day Shizuoka Prefecture. Here he devoted himself to

> > teaching a growing number

> > of disciples. Hakuin was praised by his neighbors as a teacher

> living

> > an exemplary life.

> >

> > A beautiful Japanese girl whose parents owned a food store lived

> near

> > him.

> > One day without warning, her parents discovered that she was

> > pregnant.

> >

> > This made her parents angry. The girl would not confess who the

man

> > was,

> > but after much harassment, she named Hakuin as the father.

> >

> > In great anger the parents went to the Zen Master

> > and scolded him in front of all his students.

> > All Hakuin would say was "Is that so?"

> >

> > After the baby boy was born, it was entrusted to Hakuin's care.

> > By this time he had lost his reputation. His disciples have left

> him.

> > However Hakuin was not disturbed, and enjoyed taking care of the

> > little boy.

> > He obtained milk and other essentials the boy needed from his

> > neighbors.

> >

> > A year later, the girl-mother couldn't stand it any longer.

> > She confessed the truth to her parents—

> > that the real father of the boy was not Hakuin

> > but a young man working in the local fishmarket.

> >

> > The father and mother of the girl went to Hakuin at once.

> > They asked his forgiveness and apologized profusely to get the

boy

> > back.

> >

> > Although Hakuin loved the child as his own, he was willing.

> > In giving up the boy, all he said was: "Is that so?"

> >

> > — Edited from Paul Reps, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones(1957), p. 22

> >

> > Read Norman Waddell's translation of Hakuin's Autobiography, Wild

> Ivy

> > (1999)

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