Kapleau's Big Flea and little elephant.......Look!

[Guest guest]

Roshi Kapleau agreed to educate a group of psychoanalysts about Zen.

After

being introduced to the group by the director of the analytic

institute, the

Roshi quietly sat down upon a cushion placed on the floor. A student

entered,

prostrated before the master, and then seated himself on another

cushion a

few feet away, facing his teacher. " What is Zen? " the student asked.

The

Roshi produced a banana, peeled it, and started eating. " Is that all?

Can't

you show me anything else? " the student said. " Come closer, please, "

the

master replied. The student moved in and the Roshi waved the

remaining

portion of the banana before the student's face. The student

prostrated, and

left.

A second student rose to address the audience. " Do you all

understand? "

When there was no response, the student added, " You have just

witnessed a

first-rate demonstration of Zen. Are there any questions? "

After a long silence, someone spoke up. " Roshi, I am not satisfied

with your

demonstration. You have shown us something that I am not sure I

understand. It must be possible to TELL us what Zen is. "

" If you must insist on words, " the Roshi replied, " then Zen is an

elephant

copulating with a flea. "

 

From Sesshin.......

 

......bob