Friday, June 03, 2011
Tea, Cakes and the Diamond Sutra
Once there was a monk who was an expert on the Diamond Sutra, and as
books were very valuable in his day, he carried the only copy in his
part of the world on his back. He was widely sought after for his
readings and insight into the Diamond Sutra, and very successful at
propounding its profundities to not only monks and masters but to the
lay people as well.
Thus the people of that region came to know of the Diamond Sutra, and
as the monk was traveling on a mountain road, he came upon an old
woman selling tea and cakes. The hungry monk would have loved to
refresh himself, but alas, he had no money. He told the old woman, "I
have upon my back a treasure beyond knowing -- the Diamond Sutra. If
you will give me some tea and cakes, I will tell you of this great
treasure of knowledge."
The old woman knew something of the Diamond Sutra herself, and
proposed her own bargain. She said, "Oh learned monk, if you will
answer a simple question, I will give you tea and cakes." To this the
monk readily agreed. The woman then said, "When you eat these cakes,
are you eating with the mind of the past, the mind of the present or
the mind of the future?"
No answer occurred to the monk, so he took the pack from his back and
got out the text of the Diamond Sutra, hoping he could find the
answer. As he studied and pondered, the day grew late and the old
woman packed up her things to go home for the day.
"You are a foolish monk indeed," said the old woman as she left the
hungry monk in his quandary. "You eat the tea and cakes with your
mouth."
books were very valuable in his day, he carried the only copy in his
part of the world on his back. He was widely sought after for his
readings and insight into the Diamond Sutra, and very successful at
propounding its profundities to not only monks and masters but to the
lay people as well.
Thus the people of that region came to know of the Diamond Sutra, and
as the monk was traveling on a mountain road, he came upon an old
woman selling tea and cakes. The hungry monk would have loved to
refresh himself, but alas, he had no money. He told the old woman, "I
have upon my back a treasure beyond knowing -- the Diamond Sutra. If
you will give me some tea and cakes, I will tell you of this great
treasure of knowledge."
The old woman knew something of the Diamond Sutra herself, and
proposed her own bargain. She said, "Oh learned monk, if you will
answer a simple question, I will give you tea and cakes." To this the
monk readily agreed. The woman then said, "When you eat these cakes,
are you eating with the mind of the past, the mind of the present or
the mind of the future?"
No answer occurred to the monk, so he took the pack from his back and
got out the text of the Diamond Sutra, hoping he could find the
answer. As he studied and pondered, the day grew late and the old
woman packed up her things to go home for the day.
"You are a foolish monk indeed," said the old woman as she left the
hungry monk in his quandary. "You eat the tea and cakes with your
mouth."
