Zen Teaching of the Day
Every samurai student takes a mental image and translates it to words. Water is described in the I Ching as the most yielding of all elements, but... 'back it comes to wear away the stone.' The wind is invisible, arises from nowhere, strikes sudden and sure, and returns to the void. These are the words I have chosen for my sword training: "Flow like water, Strike like the wind." -A. Taum Dell'Armo, American Samurai
A. Taum Dell'Armo, American Samurai
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The Monk & The Dragon
A Zen Teaching Story
There is a story that is told of a samurai who sets off on a spiritual journey after he is released from his servitude. It is unclear whether his Lord had died or he was given permission to follow his desire.
The samurai had been told of a great monk who lived near a mountain at the edge of a dense forest and who, from time to time, will take on a student if his heart was pure and his intent sincere.
On his journey he comes to the bank of a small river. In the river he sees a dragon. The dragon speaks and calls him by name and asks:
“Where do you wish to go?”
The samurai overcomes his initial surprise, answers, and they have this conversation:
“None cross these waters unless they slay Me,” the dragon declares.
“I have no quarrel with you and I have renounced killing,” says the samurai.
“Nevertheless, you do not cross while I live.”
“Then I shall go back to the beginning of the road and find a way around you,” responds the warrior.
“If you go that way, you return to the town where you stayed last night and they will again offer you the choice you initially refused. That choice is now behind you and I am ahead of you and you, samurai, are in the middle.”
Now the part of the story you do not know, but obviously the dragon did, was that the samurai had passed through a town and been recognized as a great and famous warrior. What was once a modest village had grown rather quickly into a town of some size. This had brought with it crime and violence. They were in dire need of him and his skills.
In return for his protection they offered:
- a pot of gold,
- a position of honor,
- and the fulfillment of all earthly desires for as long as he lived.
So the samurai had to choose.
These were his thoughts:
- Ahead lay the monk and the teachings he sincerely sought. But it would be a life of austerity and a somewhat solitary existence with no promise of ever reaching his goal.
- Behind was a reality of an easier life. Power, comfort, respect, family, children, and untold riches.
To go back he would have to break his promise never to kill again.
To go forward he would have to slay the dragon.
Before deciding, the samurai had one more question for the dragon.
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Commentary:
This is where the tale traditionally ends.
Remember, it is intended to be a Zen “teaching” story and so it is for the student to fill in the spaces.
To the western audience, ambiguity is frustrating.
Notice, even the simple fact of whether the samurai was free to take his journey due to the death of his daimyo or because of a release from service, is never established.
Why put such a trivial fact in question?
Because it matters.
Why? That’s what the Zen Master wants the student to see.
What’s the difference? That’s what the student must meditate on.
Notice, that those are two separate questions.
Of further significance:
- Who or what is the dragon?
- Why must he be slain?
- And... what is the “one more” question the samurai needs to ask?
Those who know the nature of Zen teaching know the ultimate frustration of the tradition. All student questions are always met with... absolute silence.
Historical Footnote:
The Daimyo mentioned in the story is most probably Lord Hojo Tokiyori who attained enlightenment in Zen and who greatly influenced his own samurai and the Ashikaga Shogunate. I first became aware of this through my own study of Zen-Ken-Ichi (Zen Sword).
— A. Taum Dell’Armo
The Legend of Dragon Gate
by Hakuin Ekaku, Japanese Zen Master & Artist (1686-1769)
The humble Redfin Carp pledged a solemn vow:
“I shall swim beyond the Dragon Gates. I shall brave the perilous bolts of fire and lightning. I shall transcend the realm of ordinary fish and achieve a place among the order of sacred dragons.”
Waiting until the third day of the third month, when the peach blossoms are in bloom and the river is full, he made his way to the entrance of the great barrier.
Then, with a flick of his tail, he swam forward.
You men have never laid eyes on the awesome torrent of water that rolls through the Dragon Gate. Falling from the high summit with tremendous force and carrying away whole hillsides as they go. Angry bolts of thunder beat down with a deafening roar.
- The mountain spirits are stunned into senselessness.
- The river spirits turn limp with fright.
Just a drop of this water will shatter the shell of the giant tortoise; it will break the bones of the giant whale.
It was into this maelstrom that Redfin Carp makes his all-out assault.
Ah! Golden Carp! Golden Carp!
You might have led an ordinary life out in the boundless ocean. It teems with lesser fish. You would not have gone hungry.
Then why?
What made you embark on this wild and bitter struggle?
What was waiting for you up beyond the Great Barrier?
Suddenly, after unspeakable hardship and heaven-scorching thunder-fire, his scaly armor burnt from head to tail, Redfin Carp perished into the Great Death and rose again as a divine dragon — a supreme lord of the waters.
Now, with the thunder-god at his head and a fire-god at his rear, flanked right and left with the gods of rain and wind, he moves with the clouds in one hand and mists in the other, keeping the true Dharma safe amid the defilements of the degenerate world.
Had he been content to pass his life like a lame turtle or blind tortoise, feeding on wrinkles and tiny shrimp, not even all the efforts of the Dragon Kings could have done him any good.
He could never have achieved the great success that he did.
The Dragon Gate has accepted his efforts, revealing the birth of a new Dragon, born of the seed of desire planted in the heart of a small carp that once hid in the shadows.
Forgiveness
A Samurai’s Logic by A. Taum Dell’Armo
There is an ancient story of a King who had an argument with his son. Angry words were said and the son went off to a distant land.
The King sent word to his son urging him to come home.
But the boy’s pride prevented him from returning.
So the King sent a message:
“Turn your face towards home. Return as far as you can. And I will come the rest of the way.”
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It has been said that in any gathering of a group of people, almost one-third are dealing with the question of forgiveness.
Pride and ego can keep us all from resolving this most common of all human problems.
But not-to-forgive has been likened to:
“burning the bridge over which we all must one day cross.”
It is impossible to live a life in contact with others and not someday have to deal with forgiveness.
If only everybody concerned saw it this way, maybe the pride would disappear.
— a samurai’s logic
A. Taum Dell’Armo
The Eyes of Thieves
A poem by A. Nonymouse
The gift you’ve traveled far to find
From whence you’ve journeyed true
That now is yours, what once was mine
And henceforth goes with you
Be wary then of who is friend
For foe tries to deceive
And lest you lose what you have won
Protect it from the eyes of thieves
Keep a close and vigil heart
And fall not prey to doubt
Temptation plays a varied part
And aims to win you out.
………
The road bends on to distances
Out where the darkness feeds
Where truth is seen in glimpses
Rejected by the eyes of thieves
What matters now is your intent
Behind the truth and lies
To seek the things beyond your wish
Known only to the wise
Until the sharing of the gift
With the one the heart decrees
Revealed at last and safely kept
Far from the eyes of thieves.
— A. Nonymouse
The Sword of my Father
A poem by A. Nonymouse
When born was I
In the time of Kings
And darkness was
On the face of time
I was made to know
The truth of things
Those yet to come
And those left behind
When light and shadow
Hide evil’s horde
When words of change
Bring smoke and cloud
In the place of honor
With my father’s sword
I stand alone
Death be not proud
With prophet’s words
In the mind of men
My life foretold
What was in store
The son of the King
Would come for them
To conquer the darkness
And open the door
Now comes the beast
Into the field
The King of Tyrus
Whom all despise
In the place of heaven
None can yield
Against the tree
I fall and rise
Eternal ruler
And only son
Together once
And in future time
The task completed
Yet left undone
The sacrifice
Would be the sign
When dead was I
In the time of men
And the light revealed
For all to know
With bloodied hands
I return again
With the sword of my father
To slay the foe
— A. Nonymouse