In Dreamland
A disciple of Soyen Shaku once related how his schoolmaster used to take
regular naps every afternoon and, when a curious pupil once asked the master
why he had this repose in midday, he was told, “I go to dreamland to meet ancient
sages like Confucius. When Confucius slept, he would dream of the sages and
later tell his followers about them.”
It so happened that one a real scorcher of a day some of the pupils, unable
to help themselves, took a nap under a huge and ancient tree where they benefited
from the delightful breeze. The schoolmaster, chancing upon them, scolded them
for being lax in their duties.
“We went to dreamland, the same as Confucius did, to meet the ancient
sages.” a few of them protested.
“I see,” The master pursed his lips. “What was the message from those
sages?” he called their bluff.
The bravest of the bunch responded with a serious demeanor, “When we
were in dreamland we asked the sages how well they knew you since, according to
your claim, you visited them every afternoon. Oddly enough they said that they
had never seen any such fellow.”
Zen Story
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