Guest guest Posted June 9, 2005 Report Share Posted June 9, 2005 Loshan, a disciple of Ganto, coincidentally, or not, just like his master left us little to ponder about, except for the way he died. When he was near death, Loshan asked for his ceremonial robe and ordered the monks to gather at the main hall. Everyone expected him to give some last instructions, or perhaps to recite a death poem, but instead he silently sat, staring ahead with both fists clenched on his lap. Minutes passed, and a monk coughed to his left. Loshan raised his left arm still clenching his fist. He opened his hand and yelled, " All of you to my left, get out. " He, then, raised his right arm and said the same to the monks on his right. As they began leaving, he kept repeating, " Get Out, out! Faster, faster! " The monks pushed each other in their rush. Loshan began laughing. Louder and louder he laughed. Some monks, turned around to look at their master adding to the general confusion. Abruptly, the laughter stopped, and Loshan dropped dead. This incident would only be another Zen oddity, if it were not for Ganto's screaming death at the hand of robbers. Did Lonshan orchestrated his own death to contrast with Ganto's? Did Loshan try to convey the futility of words in the presence of death? Facing death, only screaming, laughing, or silence are eloquent. What did he mean by get out? Did he mean get out these monkish pursues, don't waste your life waiting for, and chasing words? No one knows. It all happened so far away, so long ago! Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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