When Zen
Master Soeng Hyang (Barabra Rhodes) started giving koan interviews in America,
she found that her students were more interested in asking her about their
personal issues than answering the koans. She asked her teacher, Zen Master
Seung Sahn, what she should do. Zen Master Seung Sahn advised, “Put a gun to
their heads.”
When I first
read these words – “Put a gun to their heads” – I was baffled. What does this
mean? How does a Zen teacher put a gun to her students’ heads? He can’t mean it
literally, but what Zen technique would engender the same effect? A gun to
one’s head would certainly stop all thinking, but fear would appear. Why is
fear necessary?
Yesterday, at
the conclusion of our temple’s Ching Ming Festival ceremony, Zen Master Dae
Kwan asked what is one thing that all of our ancestors have given us. I had no
idea. What have my ancestors given me? Zen Master Dae Kwan helped: “They have
shown us that we are all walking the same path. Where does this path lead?”
Many of us got it…we are all going to die. A few people whispered “death,” but
the whispers didn’t satisfy Zen Master Dae Kwan. Her voice became stern: Why
are you so afraid to utter this word? What is wrong with “death” when we’re all
going to die? This is how a Zen Master puts a gun to her students’ heads.
Zen Master Dae
Kwan challenged us to examine our direction. If we’re going to die anyway, why
do we live? When a big question like this strikes us, all petty annoyances fall
away. Big problems become small; small problems become nothing. We gain
perspective, and only what should matter remains. If you look directly into the
eyes of death, and honestly ask yourself why you live, what is your answer?
Minh Ngan Tran
