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10. The Last Poem of Hoshin
The Zen Master Hoshin lived in China many years. Then he returned to
the northeastern part of Japan, where he taught his disciples. When he was
getting very old, he told them a story he had heard in China. This is the
story:
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One year on the twenty-fifth of December, Tokufu, who was very old,
said to his disciples: "I am not going to be alive next year so you
fellows should treat me well this year."
The pupils thought he was joking, but since he was a great-hearted
teacher each of them in turn treated him to a feast on succeeding days of
the departing year.
On the eve of the new year, Tokufu concluded: "You have been good to
me. I shall leave tomorrow afternoon when the snow has stopped."
The disciples laughed, thinking he was aging and talking nonsense
since the night was clear and without snow. But at midnight snow began to
fall, and the next day they did not find their teacher about. They went
to the meditation hall. There he had passed on.
Hoshin, who related this story, told his disciples: "It is not
necessary for a Zen master to predict his passing, but if he really wishes
to do so, he can."
"Can you?" someone asked.
"Yes," answered Hoshin. "I will show you what I can do seven days from
now."
None of the disciples believed him, and most of them had even forgotten
the conversation when Hoshin called them together.
"Seven days ago," he remarked, "I said I was going to leave you. It is
customary to write a farewell poem, but I am neither a poet or a
calligrapher. Let one of you inscribe my last words."
His followers thought he was joking, but one of them started to write.
"Are you ready?" Hoshin asked.
"Yes sir," replied the writer.
Then Hoshin dictated:
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I came from brillancy
And return to brillancy.
What is this?
This line was one line short of the customary four, so the disciple
said: "Master, we are one line short."
Hoshin, with the roar of a conquering lion, shouted "Kaa!" and was
gone.
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