When an anonymous bhiksuni wanted to give a formal Ch’an lecture, the monk T’an-kung said to her, “A bhiksuni, as a woman, should not give a Ch’an teaching.”
The bhiksuni said, “What do you have to say about the eight-year-old Dragon Girl becoming a Buddha?”
“The Dragon Girl can do eighteen kinds of transformations. Can you just make one transformation for this old monk?”
“Even if one can transform oneself, one is nothing but a wild-fox spirit.” said the bhiksuni.
T’an-kung then kicked her out.
Commentary
T'an-kung killed her with the first kick.
Source: Transmission of the Lamp, translated by Shi Tao-Yuan
Photo by Mrs. W
Hmmm..not sure if I understand clearly..The bhiksuni gave the right answer...why did he kick her out instead of bowing to her?
Posted by: Taru | February 01, 2009 at 05:49 AM
Hi Taru - Transformation appears in each moment. Who needs dragons and foxes?
Posted by: Barry | February 01, 2009 at 08:54 AM
Still puzzeled - I think what you said here is the essence of what she said, so why did Tan-Kung not acknowledge?
Posted by: Taru | February 01, 2009 at 01:16 PM
T'an Kung was simply wrong. The teaching doesn't care if you have a dick or a pussy.
She was just as bad. He needed a kick in the balls to set him straight.
At least she got her kick in the ass.
Its a good thing the Buddha is dead.
Posted by: Zen Guy | February 02, 2009 at 05:16 AM
Hehhee, great one, Barry, as usual! I'm getting kicked out everyday! That anonymous bhiksuni was lucky indeed to have T'an-kung as her teacher. ;)
Thank.
Posted by: Uku | February 02, 2009 at 07:14 AM
Here's how I understand this story (although my eyes don't see into it very clearly) -
On hearing the bhiksuni's request, T'an-kung challenged her center - did she believe in herself? Anyone who doesn't believe in herself or himself shouldn't be holding forth about Zen.
The nun didn't see the challenge and responded defensively with an old story - she was a thief disguised as a nun. T'an-kung gave her another chance by asking her for a transformation - come on, bhiksuni, show up right now!
But she failed to call him out on his request. So he threw her out. Rightly so (if I see it clearly).
One time Zen Master Seung Sahn said to a group of students that a woman could not get enlightenment. He was challenged by his oldest and most senior student, a woman. In reply, Zen Master Seung Sahn said, "Oh, so you're a woman?" This broadened the student's view.
I suspect that T'an-kung was up to the same thing. A good teacher always pushes their students, always confronts their attachments and fixed ideas. A good student plays freely with the teacher, without attachment or fixed view.
Posted by: Barry | February 02, 2009 at 07:40 AM
Stop making excuses for him.
You are embarrassing yourself.
No one is always right. Not him. Not her. Not you. Not me. Not the Buddha.
Too many men turn the teaching into a circle jerk.
Posted by: Zen Guy | February 02, 2009 at 06:39 PM
Throughout Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is depicted as a rather ill-tempered, profusely bearded and wide-eyed barbarian. He is described as "The Blue-Eyed Barbarian"
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