One student of Bokuju meditated for several years. When he came to the Master, he sent him back with the words: “All this is nonsense! Come back and meditate again." One day Bokuju came to his house himself. He was sitting in the lotus position. Bokuju pushed him aside and said:
- Why are you sitting like an idol? We don't need stone statues, we have plenty of them in the temple! Simply sitting like a statue will not achieve the state of meditation. By calming the body, your mind will not disappear, because it is with the help of the mind that you calm your body. Everything that is done by the mind will only strengthen the mind.
A year has passed. The teacher came again. The student sat almost in a state of euphoria, with his eyes closed, enjoying the morning breeze and sun.
Bokuju took the brick and began to rub it against the stone in front of the student. The student opened his eyes and began to watch the Master in surprise. Bokuju continued to rub the brick against the stone slab with concentration. Finally, the student could not stand it and shouted:
- What are you doing? Do you want to drive me crazy?
Bokuju replied calmly:
“I intend to make a mirror out of this brick!” If you rub it long enough, I think it will become a mirror.
The student laughed and said:
- But this is impossible! No matter how much you rub it, the brick will remain a brick.
The teacher said:
“Your answer shows some intelligence!” Then what are you doing? For several years you try to extract meditation from the mind - it is like trying to make a mirror out of a brick.
And Bokuju threw a brick into the pond, which was located next to the tree under which the student was sitting. The brick made a splash. This sound was enough for a miracle to happen. Something awakened in the student. The dream was broken, the dream was dispelled, he came to life! For the first time he tasted something of meditation.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru