Zen teacher Hoshin lived in China for many years, and then returned to northeast Japan, where he raised students. When he became quite old, he told his disciples a story he had heard in China. This is the story.
One day, on December 25th of some year, Tokufu, who was very old, said to his disciples: “I will not live to see next year, so this year you must treat me well.”
The students thought that he was joking, but since he was a generous teacher, on all the subsequent days of the outgoing year, each of them arranged a holiday for him. On the eve of the New Year, Tokufu summed up the results.
“You have been kind to me. I will leave you tomorrow at midnight when the snow stops.”
The disciples laughed, deciding that he was talking nonsense because of his old age, since the night was clear and snowless. But at midnight snow began to fall, and the next day they did not find their teacher. They went to the meditation hall. This is where he died.
After telling this story, Hoshin told the students: “It is not necessary for a Zen teacher to predict his passing, but if he wants, he can do it.” “Can you?” - someone asked. “Yes,” said Hoshin. “I will show you what I can do in seven days from today.”
None of the students believed him, and most simply forgot this conversation when Hoshin brought them together again.
“Seven days ago,” he said, “I said that I was going to leave you. There is a custom according to which I must write a farewell poem, but I am not a poet or a calligraphist. Let one of you write down my last words.”
The students thought he was joking, but one of them began to write.
"Are you ready?" - asked Hoshin. “Yes, teacher,” the recorder replied.
Then Hoshin dictated: “I come from splendor and return to splendor. What is this?”
The poem was one line shorter than usual, so the student said: “Teacher, we haven’t written one more line.”
Hoshin, with the roar of a victorious lion, cried out, “Kaa!” - and left this world.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru