Volume 1, Track 10
Many centuries ago, there was a Chinese Zen Master named Tozan. He had a community of many hundreds of monks, among whom his favorite seemed to be Sozan. In the evening, the Master was strolling through the various buildings on the temple grounds, when he came upon Sozan doing zazen Zen meditation in the Buddha Hall. The Master paused in front of the disciple, seated in zazen posture on the ground.
Tozan raised his eyebrows in inquiry. Sozan looked up. “A dark night and no travelers,” was his pronouncement. Tozan said nothing, standing over his favorite son. Suddenly, the troubled Sozan burst out, “Oh Master, I am cold.” Anyone who has gone through the dark night of the soul can sympathize with him. With that Tozan swiftly and unexpectedly cracked Sozan hard across the face with his right hand. The blow was a surprise and really stung.
When Tozan son raised his other hand to deliver another blow, Sozan did what anyone would have done in that situation: he got up and ran. The Master followed in close pursuit. Out through the door they ran then into and through another building, as the monks watched in amazement. Bursting out again into the garden, the disciple, panting and perspiring, and the Master in hot pursuit. They finally came to the dead end, and the sweating Sozan turned to face his tormentor.
Tozan caught up to him, but all he said was, “Well, are you warm now?” When the tears finally came from Sozan, all the Master would say was, “Little son, little son.”
To listen to Justin reading Spiritual Stories of the East, click here.