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The Zen Master is the book that gives very detailed information about the early years of Chinese Zen Buddhism. The book is very useful in terms of understanding spiritual vibrancy of that time. Moreover, it provides us with the explanation of the later developments of Zen. The book teachings concentrate on the state of mind of the people involved in the events. It is impossible to understand all the concepts it attempts to deliver to the reader, because these concepts are based on becoming aware of the mind itself, which is the main theme of the book. According to the book, common wisdom exists in heart of major spiritual traditions of the early Chinese Zen Buddhism.
The Zen Masters focuses on the main problem an individual experiences in the daily life. An individuals desire to obtain new knowledge and skill in order to acquire enlightenment is showed as not the right choice of action through out the book. People should not pay too much attention towards all the goals they have in live because it will not make them any closer to the state a Buddhist should seek. Kyogen had learned all the outer form of Zen. However, in terms of the deep realization the new master aided him best in the quest for true understanding of essence of life. It became obvious that the realization of Zen is not some kind of knowledge that needs to be acquired; rather the realization is based on the experience of reality, truth and harmony of life, which was the main theme of the book.
All the events were tightly incorporated with this concept. Kyogen had been under a famous Master for but two years when the old Master died. After the successor was installed, all other monks who wanted to continue under him should have asked for his permission. When it was Kyogen's turn, the new Master asked him whether Kyogen wanted to continue his training or not. The new Master also did not forget to mention about excellent capacities of Kyogen. The new Master knew Kyogen very well and made Kyogen to feel good after acknowledging his skills and knowledge.
However, when the Master asked about the death, Kyogen was not able to tell where he would go after the end of life. Kyogen knew scriptures very well, but he could not answer the question of the Master. He asked permission to look through the scriptures again, because he was sure that there is an answer. He was searching for the truth for three days, but could not find it.
After Kyogen admitted to the Master that he did no find the answer, he decided to ask the Master to tell reveal the truth. The Master told Kyogen that he would not reveal the answer simply because this would rob Kyogen of own insight. However, Kyogen desperately wanted to know the truth and demanded the Master to answer the question. The Master refused and Kyogen threatened to kill him, but the Master convinced Kyogen that his dead body would not help Kyogen to find the truth. After that Kyogen had left the monastery believing that he does not have any chance in the life. He wanted to spend the rest of life wandering and he believed that in his next life he will train better and will definitely find the answer.
Kyogen settled in the tomb of the Sixth Patriarch and lived there for many years. One day when Kyogen was working on the ground as usually, he tipped out pebbles out of his barrow ful of weed. One pebble hit a bamboo trunk with a clink. Kyogen heard the sound and suddenly awoke. At this very moment, the answer to the question was clear to him.
He returned to the monastery and thanked his wise Master for not revealing the truth. The truth was that all the attainments in life are not important as much as what a person seeks in it.
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Research essay sample on Theme Of The Book Answer The Question
