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happened. This is what the miracle of a master is.
A Zen sutra says: 'The man of understanding does not reject error.' When I came across it, my heart danced. Recite this sutra in the deepest core of your heart: The man of understanding does not reject error.
And another master, speaking on the sutra, commented -- his name was Ohasama -- he commented: 'Truth does not need to be sought first, for it is present everywhere, even in error. Hence who rejects error rejects truth.'
Tremendous these people are! One who rejects error rejects truth. Do you see the beauty of it? The radical, the revolutionary, standpoint of it? Shichiri did not reject the man because he was a thief; he does not reject the man because of his error -- because behind that error is a divine existence, a god. Reject the error, and you reject the god too. Reject the error, and you reject the truth that is hidden behind it.
He accepts the error in order to accept the truth. Once the truth arises, is accepted, spreads, the error will disappear on its own accord. You need not fight with darkness -- that is the meaning. Simply light a candle. You need not fight with darkness, just light a candle. The master lighted a candle in the man.
Exactly the same, but a little more Zen, there is another story out another master -- almost the same, but still more Zenish.
One midnight when Master Taigan was writing a letter a thief came into his room carrying a big naked sword. Looking at the thief, the master said, 'Which do you want -- money or my life?'
Now, this is more Zen -- he does not give a chance to the thief to say anything. Shichiri at least gave him the chance; with Shichiri the thief asked: A thief with a sharp sword entered into Shichiri's room DEMANDING EITHER HIS MONEY OR HIS LIFE. Taigan has improved upon it. Maybe Taigan followed later on -- he must have come across Shichiri's story. He does not give that much chance to the thief. He says to this thief, 'Which do you want -- money or my life? Both are irrelevant -- whatsoever you need, you can take. It is your choice.'
'I came for money,' replied the thief, a little afraid.
This man
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