[Updates & News] [Poetry & Stories] [Theravada Writings] [Zen / Ch'an Writings] [Other Mahayana Writings] [Buddhist Webrings] [Buddhist Links] [About this Page] [Home]

The Empty Mirror

As told by Anders Honoré

We're in China, when Buddhism has become strongly established and the Ch'an and Tendai sects has become very strong. Even the emperor was a Buddhist, and a certain court lady felt attracted to the mystic training. She sought out many priests and so-called masters, but most of the time she encountered only grand luxury and heard words that were not easily comprehended. These people put on holy masks and had answers to every question. The lady was intelligent and quite observant, and she couldn't shake of this feeling of being part of an act, a fascinating act, but an act nonetheless. She asked for, and was granted, audience with the emperor and described to him what she had seen.

"Is this Buddhism?" she asked. "Well," the emperor said, "the eye needs something to behold and religion is not unhealthy for the people. Besides, there's always the possibility that they might learn something. The eightfold path is noble, and there are priests and monks who has wandered it, and their example is not without value." "But are they true masters?" she asked. "Yes, I know a master. He's a primitive old man, and my predecessors would have chopped his head off, if he had spoken to them, the way he speaks to me. I have never had any luck to lure him to the palace, but when I visit him and is accompanied by two lifeguards at most, he may lower himself to accept me. That is, if he has nothing better to do." "But, you are the son of the sky," the lady stuttered. "Yes, yes. That's what they say. Quite frankly, I don't believe it myself, and I'm convinced that the master doesn't either. When he speaks to me, I'm often reminded of the old Tao-writings. You know, what I mean. To rule without doing anything, to speak by being silent, to own the universe by denying all material goods. But, I will happy to tell you where he lives if you are interested in meeting him. Dress as an ordinary woman, and I will give you two disguised sword-fighters as protection on the road. He lives in a remote part of the country, a couple of days travel from here."

The court lady did just that, and she succeeded in finding the master's temple. When she arrived, a hurricane had devastated the area and the temple roof had blown away. The master was living in a ruin. The master was a man of few words, and even unkind words, and he tried to throw her out. "I don't teach! I'm an ignorant old man and I live alone. I dream my days away and often sit here, just staring out in the blue; whatever that might be going on in my head, could be of no interest to you." The woman insisted and again, the master refused. Finally she made him a proposal. "I'm a quite wealthy woman. I would like to do something for another human being, and it would be unkind of you to deny that. Let me renovate your temple, and afterwards return and come live with you for a week to find peace and listen to you." The master thought about it and then nodded. The woman sent craftsmen to repair the temple, and then she returned. Instead of a week she stayed for three months. She did her best, but when the time had come to return home, she admitted that she not learned anything. She blamed herself for her failure and didn't complain. She politely said farewell to the master and thanked him for the stay. The master was feeling uncomfortable. His temple had been nicely renovated, the lady was a noble and sympathetic human being, and there she was, miserable and very unhappy with herself. "Just a moment," he said. The court lady unsaddled and bowed.

"Do you have a large room in the palace?" The woman nodded. "Good. See if you can gather 50 mirrors and I will come visit you in a months time. Maybe I can still teach you something." A month later, the master arrived at the palace and placed the mirrors, so they reflected in each other. Afterwards, he told the woman to sit in the centre of the room and describe what she saw. The lady sat in full lotus for a long time without speaking. "I see that everything that happens, is reflected in everything else," she said. "Yes, and what else?", the master asked. "Everything is mutually connected." The master waited, but the lady said nothing more. Finally he mumbled. "That wasn't much, but still something. Some you have understood, after all, but there is still much to learn." After that, he left. When the lady went to visit him, a while later, he was dead. According to legend she moved into his temple, and there, by performing the practices that the master had taught her, she achieved full enlightenment.