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watched. Kakusan did not move, did not lose his balance, did not even ask him, "Why are you hitting me?" A man of balance does not care whether the night is dark, whether life is coming to an end. In every situation and circumstance his balance is never lost.
AFTER KAKUSAN BECAME ENLIGHTENED, AN ASCETIC ONCE SAID TO HIM, "WHAT IS THE TRUE MEANING OF BUDDHISM?" KAKUSAN REMAINED SILENT AND BOWED TO HIM.
Without saying a word, he has said more than can be said. His silence is not a dead, negative state. His silence is full of peace and love. He showed in his silence the meaning of the whole teaching of Buddha and to this stranger he bowed. It does not matter whether you are enlightened or not. In any case, in the deepest center of your being you are a buddha. And this is the very meaning of Buddha's whole teaching.
THE ASCETIC ASKED, "ARE YOU BOWING TO A MAN OF THE WORLD?"
KAKUSAN REPLIED, "DON'T YOU SEE WHAT I AM SAYING? I AM YOUR FAMOUS DISCIPLE!"
The man was an ordinary man of the world. He could not believe that an enlightened man, a buddha, would bow down to him. He was surprised. He said, "Don't you see, I am an ordinary man of the world. Are you bowing to a man of the world?"
Kakusan replied -- what a beautiful answer -- "DON'T YOU SEE WHAT I AM SAYING?" And he has not said anything. But silence is also saying something. Bowing down is also saying something. "DON'T YOU SEE WHAT I AM SAYING? I AM YOUR FAMOUS DISCIPLE!"
A man who is enlightened is the disciple of everyone in the world because what you cannot see, he can see with absolute clarity and certainty. Where you can see only a seed, he can see roses blossoming. Where you can at the most feel some potential, he sees your ultimate destiny. Where you are on the path, he sees you have reached home.
One of the most beautiful sayings that I have loved comes from Mahavira, a contemporary of Gautam Buddha. A very strange statement -- Mahavira says, "If you have started the journey you have reached already."
If a seed has started sprouting the spring is not far away. Soon, where there was nothing there will be beautiful flowers, with great fragrance.
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