Noway2Zero
20th February 2007, 11:55 AM
One summer, Ko Bong Sunim sat Kyol Che at Won Sah Temple, where the famous Zen Master Hae Wol was teaching. There were thirty monks sitting mornings and evenings, and working in the garden during the day. The work was hard and they were all very tired by evening. Also, had no money and very little food, and the food that they had was awful. There were many complaints amongst the monks.
One morning, Zen Master Hae Wol left his students for a few days to visit the head temple. After he left, Ko Bong talked his fellow monks into selling the temple's cow. (They needed this cow for work in the garden, so without it, they would not be able to work.) After selling the cow, Ko Bong suggested they buy good food and drink for everyone. That night instead of sitting, they had a big party. They ate, drank, shouted, danced, and sang songs. They were very happy. They went to sleep quite late and did not get up for morning chanting.
As he returned to the temple early the next morning, with the sun already rising, the Zen Master could not hear any chanting. He noticed that the cow was missing. Upon opening the temple door, he was hit with the bad small from all the food and drink. His students lay all about snoring loudly.
Perceiving what they had done, he became very angry and shouted, "Wake up! Wake up!!" Everyone jumped up, very afraid, but could say nothing. Walking toward the Buddha statue, he looked from student to student. His eyes were big, like a lion's. "Who stole my cow?" he shouted. Everyone jumped nervously, and became even more afraid. But they said nothing. They all just looked at Ko Bong Sunim. For his part, Ko Bong just sat there. He was not afraid. Again the Zen Master shouted, "Who stole my cow?"
Suddenly, Ko Bong stood up and removed all his clothes. Getting down on his hands and knees he crawled in front of Hae Wol, saying, "Moo! Moooo!"
Zen Master Hae Wol only smiled, and hit Ko Bong on his bare ass, saying, "My cow is not this small." Hitting him again, he added, "My cow is bigger"
Then Ko Bong got up and returned to his room. The cow was never mentioned again.
One morning, Zen Master Hae Wol left his students for a few days to visit the head temple. After he left, Ko Bong talked his fellow monks into selling the temple's cow. (They needed this cow for work in the garden, so without it, they would not be able to work.) After selling the cow, Ko Bong suggested they buy good food and drink for everyone. That night instead of sitting, they had a big party. They ate, drank, shouted, danced, and sang songs. They were very happy. They went to sleep quite late and did not get up for morning chanting.
As he returned to the temple early the next morning, with the sun already rising, the Zen Master could not hear any chanting. He noticed that the cow was missing. Upon opening the temple door, he was hit with the bad small from all the food and drink. His students lay all about snoring loudly.
Perceiving what they had done, he became very angry and shouted, "Wake up! Wake up!!" Everyone jumped up, very afraid, but could say nothing. Walking toward the Buddha statue, he looked from student to student. His eyes were big, like a lion's. "Who stole my cow?" he shouted. Everyone jumped nervously, and became even more afraid. But they said nothing. They all just looked at Ko Bong Sunim. For his part, Ko Bong just sat there. He was not afraid. Again the Zen Master shouted, "Who stole my cow?"
Suddenly, Ko Bong stood up and removed all his clothes. Getting down on his hands and knees he crawled in front of Hae Wol, saying, "Moo! Moooo!"
Zen Master Hae Wol only smiled, and hit Ko Bong on his bare ass, saying, "My cow is not this small." Hitting him again, he added, "My cow is bigger"
Then Ko Bong got up and returned to his room. The cow was never mentioned again.