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Utmost Vehicle Zen
By: Anthony Baez
Deep in the forest Zen Master Uriah was in deep meditation. He was suddenly disturb by his servant Lugon. Master, master! Zen Master Uriah opened his eyes and seen his servant Lugon running to him from afar. When Lugon finally came to where Uriah was sitting in meditation Uriah spoke out. What is it Lugon? Master please come quickly. Where to Lugon. You must come with me to the waterfall. Yin has struck again. Why should I come to the waterfall? And what has yin done now? Master, Yin has capture 3 of you novice students. He has them at the waterfall and he is threatening to kill them. He sent word to get you. So now I am here please come quickly. Then we leave at once Lugon, Come! Zen Master Uriah and Lugon race through the forest as quickly as they can to the waterfall. Once there Uriah seen his 3 students 80 feet above from where he was at the ledge of the waterfall with ropes tied around their necks. Uriah looked upon his students with compassion coming from behind them Yin appeared.
Uriah! You finally showed your face, said Yin. Yin why do you torment me through my students.? I know the love you have for your students Uriah. Remember I was once a student of yours. What is it that you want Yin? I want to torment you that’s what I want. Now shut up and listen to me. I will let your students live if they answer my questions correctly. If not I will pull them over the ledge. Now I hope you taught your students utmost vehicle Zen because their lives will depend on it. Now I will give you just a little hope. You may hint your students on the questions that I will ask but you will not speak. You will make one action move and nothing further to help your students. If you dare make another move I will pull your student into his doom. Uriah looks at his students as they stand at the ledge of the waterfall 80 feet high from their death. Let the games begin! Yin shouts out loudly. Student number 1 yin shouts as he tugs the rope in his hand that is connected to the students neck. “yes”, said the student. The rope tied around your neck is it the same as you or different? Answer correctly and you will live. Answer incorrectly and you will die.
The student looks down at his master Uriah. Uriah puts his right hand over his heart to give his student a hint. The student sees it as he tries to understand what it means. What can this mean oh God what can this mean. The student talks to himself in his head. Hand over the heart hand over the heart what can this mean. The heart, the heart, the heart. Ho forgot to tell shouts out Yin. You have a time limit, you have one minute. Your time starts now. Make any other move Uriah and your student will understand the law of gravity. The student looks at his master Uriah with his hand still placed over his heart. Oh no what can this mean, what can this mean. Heart, heart, heart, the student is constantly speaking to himself in his head. Heart, heart, the heart sutra. You have 30 seconds said Yin. Ok the heart sutra what does the heart sutra say about a question like this. Got it form is empti9ness, emptiness is form. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form come to me, come to me if form is emptiness and emptiness is form that means my substance and the substance of all things are the same. Then yes me and the rope around my nect are the same. 15 seconds, said Yin. Yes! The rope around my neck and me are the same, said the student to Yin.
You answered correctly. You will live. Uriah exhales slowly as he heard “you will live” come out of Yin’s mouth. Student number 2 shouts Yin. I ask you the same question. Is the rope around your neck the same or different? If you say the same I will pull you to your doom. If you say different I will still pull you to your doom. Now answer me, Your minute starts now. The second student looks at his master Uriah, for a hint. Uriah sits down in Lotus position as he is about to meditate. The student starts to talk to himself in his head. Ok he is sitting down as in meditation. What is meditation? Come to me please come to me. Meditation in Zen is having a empty mind. Come on think, think, no cannot think must go before think, must go before thinking. True emptiness before thinking come on how can I answer this question in emptiness without think? 20 seconds! Said Yin. Emptiness, emptiness, who am I, don’t know mind. Got it emptiness is emptiness there is no emptiness. The student stretches out both of his hands and claps. Ah you answered correctly, said Yin. Your will Live. Uriah looks up and exhales slowly again. Student number 3! Yin shouts out loudly. What is Zen?
The student looks down at his master for a hint. Uriah quickly hits his servant Lugon on the head. Ouch! Why did you do that for, said Lugon. The student seen the action. He starts to talk to himself in his head. Ok what can this mean. My master hits his servant what can this mean? Come to me, come to me. I’m going to make this interesting said Yin. You! Student number 3 is the unfortunate one, you have 10 seconds to answer, Oh no why me? Said the student to himself. Please come to me, come to me. How can I answer this. What is Zen, what is Zen? 5 seconds, said Yin. What is en please come to me. Got it! The student looks at Yin and shouts loudly, Fire is Fire water is water. You answer correctly and with that answer you will live. Uriah slowly exhales again for the last time. All 3 of you understand the 3 types of Utmost vehicle Zen. Theoretical Zen, Tathagata Zen, and Patriarchal Zen, said Yin. Live in peace and continue on your path to enlightenment. Uriah I have tormented you long enough for now but I will soon come again. With saying that Yin stepped back and disappeared before everyone’s eyes.
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