Listening Out Loud

About the Book

Many pupils were studying meditation under the Zen master Sengai. One of them used to arise at night, climb over the temple wall, and go to town on a pleasure jaunt. Sengai, inspecting the dormitory quarters, found this pupil missing one night and also discovered the high stool he had used to scale the wall. Sengai removed the stool and knelt in its place. When the wanderer returned, not knowing that Sengai was the stool, he put his feet on the master's head and jumped down into the grounds. Discovering what he had done, he was aghast. Sengai said, "It is very chilly in the early morning. Do be careful not to catch cold." The pupil never went out at night again. (Adapted from Zen Flesh, Zen Bones compiled by Paul Reps)

About the Author

Randall Huntsberry, Ph.D. is a corporate consultant, marriage and family counselor, and poet. Formerly, he was a college professor, modern dance improvisationist and oil field roustabout. He has his B.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University.