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Main Index
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THEM, SAID, "WHAT IS THIS?"
The monks must have been at a loss. In fact, Seppo's opening the gate, standing before them, was a question to be asked by them. But before they had said anything Seppo himself without being questioned, asked, "What is this?"
In utter confusion those two monks said to Seppo, "What is this? We have not even asked, we have not even entered the gate, we have not even said hello to you and you open the gate, and standing before us irrationally ask, `What is this?' In fact, we ask you about your behavior, `WHAT IS THIS?'"
They missed the point. SEPPO LOWERED HIS HEAD AND RETURNED TO HIS COTTAGE. This lowering of the head of the master is a deep sadness about the misunderstanding these two monks have shown. And he returned to his cottage because there is no point in saying anything more. He has already said more than is absolutely essential. This becomes clear -- that he has already said more.
LATER THE MONKS CAME TO GANTO WHO SAID, "WHERE ARE YOU FROM?"
Ganto was Seppo's master.
THE MONKS ANSWERED, "WE HAVE COME FROM SOUTH OF THE NANREI MOUNTAINS."
GANTO SAID, "HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO SEE SEPPO?"
THE MONKS SAID, "YES, WE HAVE BEEN TO HIM."
GANTO SAID, "WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU?"
THE MONKS RELATED THE WHOLE STORY.
GANTO SAID, "ALAS! I REGRET THAT I DID NOT TELL HIM THE LAST WORD WHEN I WAS WITH HIM. IF I HAD DONE SO, NO ONE IN THE WHOLE WORLD COULD HAVE PRETENDED TO OUTDO HIM."
AT THE END OF THE SUMMER SESSION, THE MONKS REPEATED THE STORY AND ASKED GANTO FOR HIS INSTRUCTION.
GANTO SAID, "WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK EARLIER?"
THE MONKS SAID, "WE HAVE HAD A HARD TIME STRUGGLING WITH THIS TOPIC."
GANTO SAID, "SEPPO CAME TO LIFE IN THE SAME WAY THAT I DID, BUT HE DOES NOT DIE IN THE SAME WAY THAT I DO. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE LAST WORD, I WILL TELL YOU SIMPLY -- THIS! THIS!"
Ganto is saying that to ask, "What is this?" is not exactly right. The existence cannot be questioned, it cannot be a `what'. It simply is, without any question and without any answer.
Simply `this'.
This small anecdote converging in the smallest possible word,
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