Daily Zen Quote - May 23, 2013

For years the great master-to-be, Rinzai, studied under Obaku. One day he asked:
 "What is the fundamental teaching of Buddhism?"
        Obaku struck him with a stick. Three times Rinzai asked, and three time was struck, and so he decided to leave Obaku, and, at his master's suggestion, went to study with Taigu. When Taigu asked why, Rinzai told him the story, and Taigu said: "How kind he was to you!"
        All at once Rinzai had a great understanding and said: "I see now, Obaku's Zen is nothing special."
     "What?" demanded Taigu. With that, Rinzai struck him three times and went back to Obaku. When he explained everything that happened, Obaku said: "What a talkative man that Taigu is. If he were to come here, he shall be severely beaten."
      "Why wait?" Rinzai said, and walked up to Obaku and gave him a slap on the cheek.

~Zen Mondo