What Have You Brought Here?
One Sunday morning, a student came into the interview room at the Providence Zen Center and bowed to Seung Sahn Soen-sa. Soen-sa said, "What have you brought here?"
The student hit the floor.
Soen-sa said, "Is this the truth?"
The student again hit the floor.
Soen-sa said, "You understand One; you don't understand Two."
The student hit the floor again.
Soen-sa said, "A second offense is not permitted."
The student bowed and left.
The next student came into the room. Soen-sa said, "What have you brought here?"
The student said, "I don't know."
Soen-sa said, "How long have you been sitting Zen?"
The student said, "Three months."
Soen-sa said, "Why do you sit Zen?"
"I think too much. I like the quietness."
Soen-sa said, "Where does your thinking come from?"
"I don't know."
Soen-sa said, "This don't-know mind cuts off all thinking, and is the true quiet mind. So ask yourself, 'What am I?' all the time, and keep your don't-know mind."
The student said, "Thank you very much."
Soen-sa said, "Next time, bring your don't-know mind here."
The student bowed and left.
Many students came and went. One student came and Soen-sa said, "What have you brought here?"
The student shouted "KATZ!!!"
Soen-sa put his hands over his ears and said, "Your KATZ has broken my ears."
The student again shouted "KATZ!!!"
Soen-sa asked, "Is KATZ all you brought here?"
The student said, "No."
Soen-sa said, "Then give me something else."
The student stood up, bowed, and said, "Did you sleep well last night?"
Soen-sa said, "Pretty well, thank you. Now go drink tea."
The student left.
The next student came. Soen-sa said, "What have you brought here?"
The student hit the floor. Soen-sa said, "Is this the truth?"
The student said, "No."
Soen-sa asked, "What is the truth?"
The student said, "Today is Sunday, July 22, 1973."
Soen-sa opened his kong-an book, and said, "Long ago a Zen Master said, 'When you hear a wooden chicken crow, you will understand your mind.' What does this mean?"
The student said, "A stone girl dances to the music of a flute with no holes."
Soen-sa said, "Not bad. Now, one more question for you. A person comes to the Providence Zen Center smoking a cigarette and blows smoke and drops ashes on the Buddha. If you are the Zen Master, what can you do?"
The student said, "I would hit him."
"This person is very strong. He only understands that he is Buddha, he is Dharma. He will hit you back."
The student said, "I would only sit."
Soen-sa said, "You are a Zen Master. You understand that he has an attachment to emptiness. If you only sit, you won't be teaching him."
The student said, "I'm not a Zen Master. So how would I know?"
The student and Soen-sa laughed together. Soen-sa said, "You must practice hard. I hope you soon attain enlightenment."
The student said, "Thank you very much," bowed, and left.
