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From: wfs@mgweed.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sport
Subject: Zen and Intuitive Response
Message-ID: <1580@mgweed.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 24-Jun-83 13:28:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: mgweed.1580
Posted: Fri Jun 24 13:28:56 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jun-83 22:53:36 EDT
Organization: Western Electric - Montgomery Illinois
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                     Zen and Intuitive Response(part 4)

      A Zen story tells  of a boy who wanted to be displined in the art  of
    fencing.  He  sought  the  tutelage  of  a  great  master  to begin his
    training.  The master, who was in retirement, agreed to train the  boy,
    whereupon  the  master  made  the student draw water, cook food, gather
    wood,  and  other  everyday  household  duties.  There  was  no  formal
    training. Finally the disillusioned boy complained that he was there to
    learn the art of swordmanship, not innkeeping. The master  agreed.  the
    result  was  that  the  young man could not do any piece of work with a
    feeling of safty.  For when he began to cook rice early in the morning,
    the  master  would appear and strike him from behind with a stick. When
    he was in the midst of his sweeping, he would be feeling the same  blow
    from an unknown direction. He had no peace of mind; he had to be always
    on the alert.  some years passed before he could successfully dodge the
    blow  from  whatever source it might come. But the master was not quite
    satisfied with him yet. One day the master was found  cooking  his  own
    vegetables  over an open fire. The pupil took it into his head to avail
    himself of this opportunity. Taking up his big stick, he let it fall on
    the  head  of the master, who was then stooping over the cooking pan to
    stir its contents. But the pupil's stick was caught by the master  with
    the  cover of the pan. This opened the student's mind to the secrets of
    the art, which had hitherto been kept from him. He then for  the  first
    time  really  appreciated  the  unparalleled  kindness  of  the master.
    Through this mode of instruction the master opened the  student's  eyes
    to a reactive consciousness that is alert, ever watchful and responsive
    even  though  our   mind   or   thoughts   be   occupied   with   other
    matters...................(to be cont'd. in part 5)