Master/Student
A student and his teacher set at a table in one of the larger rooms in the temple. Nothing is being spoken between them as the sensei (teacher) watches a fly limp across the table. The fly takes flight circles the room and lands on a paper screen. The sensei quietly opens a drawer in the table a takes out an acupuncture needle. He slowly walks to the opposite side of the paper screen were the fly has landed, pauses, studies the abdomen of the fly then presses the needle through the paper screen and into the abdomen. He retains the needle momentarily then quickly pulls it free. The fly, stunned takes flight, circles the room and lands on the edge of the table limping towards the center. Sensei, that was the most amazing thing I have ever seen, said the student. Not so amazing said the sensei the fly still limps! Yes, yes I see, however, the needle went into the abdomen of that fly and it did not die. You must be the greatest needle master in the land and I, being your senior student must also be great. With that the student ran to his sleeping cell, through off his student robe, put on his doctor robe and headed out to heal the world. On his road to greatness he ran across a sage sitting in meditation on the shore of a lake. The student listened for a moment realizing that the sage was entranced in a sound meditation. Excuse me sir, I realize my intrusion is inexcusable, however, your sound meditation is not quite correct. If I may, I am a senior student of my sensei and I would be honored if you would allow me to correct your mistake. Yes, by all means said the sage it is an honor to be in the presents of your wisdom. The student imparted his sensei’s wisdom to the sage and continued on his healing journey. He had not traveled far when he spied a rowboat. Ah, what a lovely time to row to the middle of the lake and ponder what the universe truly needs of me. The sky was full of puffy white clouds slowly drifting by. Noticing them the student laid back and began to doze when suddenly, a shadow appeared blocking the sun. Startled, the student sat up. I do beg your forgiveness young sensei, however, I have forgotten your gifted advice regarding my sound meditation. Silence drifted along with the clouds. Young sensei was speechless; there standing on the water next to the rowboat was the sage. The very same sage that not one half hour ago young sensei was instructing sound meditations. I see that I have interrupted your own meditations please forgive me I will leave you to your silence.
At that the sage turned and proceeded across the water to his mediation spot to continue his sound mediation.
The young sensei sat with his head hung low. He could not bear looking up for fear of seeing himself for what he had become.
What a fool am I? To think I can speak the teaching of my sensei and call it my own. I prance out of the temple a self- proclaimed healer only to limp back an infant. Back in his sleeping cell the young sage changed out of his doctor robe and into his student robe. He did not know how long he was sitting at his small table when a fly appeared. It circled the room landed on the edge of the table and limped to the center.