Any wandering monk could stop at a Zen temple, provided that he was a conqueror of those who lived in that temple. If he is defeated, he will have to leave.
In one temple in northern Japan lived two monk brothers. The older brother studied, and the younger brother was a fool, and also one-eyed. One day a wandering monk came to them and asked to spend the night, offering, in accordance with custom, to talk about sublime teachings.
The older brother, tired from studying during the day, ordered the younger brother to perform in his place.
“Go and demand a conversation in silence,” he taught him.
So the younger brother and the stranger went to the shrine and sat down.
Soon the wanderer stood up, approached his elder brother and said:
— Your little brother is an amazing guy. He defeated me.
“Tell me the dialogue,” asked the older brother.
“First,” said the wanderer, “I raised one finger, symbolizing the enlightened Buddha.” Then your brother raised two fingers, symbolizing the Buddha and his teachings. I raised three fingers, symbolizing the Buddha, his teachings and his followers living a harmonious life. Then your brother shook his clenched fist in front of my face, indicating that all three came from the same realization. So he won and I have no right to stay here.
With these words the wanderer left.
-Where is this guy? - asked the younger brother, running up to the older one.
“I understood from him that you won the argument.”
- I haven’t won anything. I want to beat him up.
“Tell me what you were arguing about,” asked the older brother.
“Well, he looked at me for a minute, then raised one finger, insulting me with the insinuation that I have one eye.” Since he is a wanderer, I thought that I should be more polite to him. So I held up two fingers, congratulating him on having two eyes. Then this rude and scoundrel raised three fingers, hinting that between the two of us we only have three eyes. Then I got mad and started beating him, and he ran away. That was the end of it.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru