Is that so?

The Zen master Hakuin was praised by his neighbors as one living a pure life. A beautiful Japanese girl whose parents owned a food store lived near him. Suddenly, without any warning, her parents discovered she was with child. This made her parents angry. She would not confess who the man was, but after much harassment at last named Hakuin. In great anger the parent went to the master. "Is that so?" was all he would say. After the child was born it was brought to Hakuin By this time he had lost his reputation, which did not trouble him, but he took very good care of the child. He obtained milk from his neighbors & everything else he needed. A year later the girl-mother could stand it no longer. She told her parents the truth-the real father of the child was a young man who worked in the fish market. The mother & father of the girl at once went to Hakuin to ask forgiveness, to apologize at length and to get the child back. Hakuin was willing. In yielding the child, all he said was "Is that so?"

Every-minute Zen

Zen students are with their masters at least ten years before they presume to teach others. Nan-in was visited by Tenno, who, having passed his apprenticeship, had become a teacher. The day happened to be rainy, so Tenno wore wooden clogs and carried an umbrella. After greeting him Nan-in remarked: "I suppose you left your wodden clogs in the vestibule. I want to know if your umbrella is on the right or left side of the clogs."


Tenno, confused, had no instant answer. He realized that he was unable to carry his Zen every minute. He became Nan-in's pupil, and he studied six more years to accomplish his every-minute Zen.