In ancient
times it was customary for a traveling monk seeking lodging at a Zen monastery
to engage in dharma combat with the abbot or head monk. If the wayfarer
won the debate, he could stay; if not, he had to seek quarters elsewhere.
Once a master assigned his attendant to engage in such an encounter with
a traveling monk, who challenged him to a silent debate. It so happened
that this attendant had but one eye.
Soon the wayfarer returned to the master, saying, "Your man is too
good for me. I must journey on. I held up one finger to symbolize the
Buddha. But he held up two fingers for the Buddha and the Dharma. So I
held up three fingers for the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. But then
he held up a clenched fist to indicate they were all one - so I ran to
indicate I am no match for him."
When the traveler who spoke these words left, the attendant arrived -
angry and out of breath. "Where is that rascal?" he demanded.
"First, he insulted me by holding up one finger to indicate I had
only one eye. Determined to be polite in spite of that, I held up two
fingers to indicate that, on the other hand, he was blessed with two eyes.
But he just kept rubbing it in, for next he held up three fingers to indicate
that all together there were only three eyes among us. So I went to hit
him and he ran off! Where is he hiding?"
