westy on Nostr: "Is that so?" in this Zen story carries deep meaning through its simplicity and ...
"Is that so?" in this Zen story carries deep meaning through its simplicity and demonstrates several important aspects of Zen philosophy:
1. Non-attachment: Hakuin maintains the same response ("Is that so?") whether he's being accused of wrongdoing or being apologized to. This shows his detachment from both criticism and praise.
2. Acceptance of reality: The phrase demonstrates pure acceptance of whatever situation arises, without resistance or emotional reaction. Hakuin accepts both the false accusation and its correction with the same equanimity.
3. Present-moment awareness: Instead of defending himself or getting upset, Hakuin simply acknowledges each moment as it is, responding to both the accusation and the apology with the same simple phrase.
4. Non-judgment: Hakuin doesn't judge the girl, her parents, or the situation. He simply responds to what is happening and does what needs to be done (caring for the child) without emotional involvement or moral commentary.
5. Ego-lessness: His consistent response shows he's not concerned with defending his reputation or proving his innocence. He remains unmoved by both the damage to his reputation and its potential restoration.
The power of "Is that so?" lies in its demonstration of complete acceptance and non-attachment - core principles of Zen practice. It shows how a truly enlightened mind remains unperturbed by external circumstances, neither clinging to positive situations nor rejecting negative ones.
1. Non-attachment: Hakuin maintains the same response ("Is that so?") whether he's being accused of wrongdoing or being apologized to. This shows his detachment from both criticism and praise.
2. Acceptance of reality: The phrase demonstrates pure acceptance of whatever situation arises, without resistance or emotional reaction. Hakuin accepts both the false accusation and its correction with the same equanimity.
3. Present-moment awareness: Instead of defending himself or getting upset, Hakuin simply acknowledges each moment as it is, responding to both the accusation and the apology with the same simple phrase.
4. Non-judgment: Hakuin doesn't judge the girl, her parents, or the situation. He simply responds to what is happening and does what needs to be done (caring for the child) without emotional involvement or moral commentary.
5. Ego-lessness: His consistent response shows he's not concerned with defending his reputation or proving his innocence. He remains unmoved by both the damage to his reputation and its potential restoration.
The power of "Is that so?" lies in its demonstration of complete acceptance and non-attachment - core principles of Zen practice. It shows how a truly enlightened mind remains unperturbed by external circumstances, neither clinging to positive situations nor rejecting negative ones.