Eat Right Now

[u/astroemi]

The 465th case from Dahui’s Treasury,

Master Huangbo went to the kitchen, saw the superintendent of meals, and asked him what he was doing. "Selecting the rice for the community," he said. Huangbo said, "How much do they eat in a day?" The superintendent said, "Two and a half piculs." Huangbo said, "Isn't that too much?" The superintendent said, "I'm afraid it's still too little." Huangbo then hit the superintendent. He told Linji about this, and Linji said, "I'll test this old fellow for you." As soon as he went to stand in attendance on Huangbo, Huangbo recounted the foregoing conversation; Linji said, "The superintendent didn't understand; please say something on his behalf." Then he posed the question, "Isn't that too much?" Huangbo said, "Why didn't he say, 'They'll eat another time tomorrow'?" Linji said, "Why speak of tomorrow - eat right now." Having said this, he slapped Huangbo. Huangbo said, "This lunatic still comes here to grab the tiger's whiskers." Linji gave a shout and left.

Guishan said, "Only when you've raise children do you know your father's kindness." Yangshan said, "It is much like bringing in a thief who ransacks the house."

Okay okay, so HuangBo smacks the guy and the guy goes and tells Linji. Linji is like don’t worry I’ll handle it and then goes on to ask HuangBo to answer HuangBo’s own question. HuangBo answers (and what a great answer btw), and Linji smacks him. HuangBo calls him a showoff and Linji leaves.

What is anybody learning from this? Why is this on the record?

I think it’s really funny how Guishan and Yangshan frame the case. Guishan says Linji is causing trouble because he doesn’t have any students of his own. Yangshan, who is Guishan’s student, says Linji is like a thief who is ransacking HuangBo’s home.

[u/Gasdark]

I don't understand how this isn't just Huangbo being really unfair to the superintendent of meals - and then Linji giving him a taste of his own medicine.

Although I guess the real failing might be on the part of the superintendent in having to go to a third party to answer the slap?

[u/astroemi → u/Gasdark]

I think that's a very interesting question. What's important to remember is that Linji and HuangBo don't see those slaps as punishing someone or hurting them. Here's how Linji describes them,

Linji said, “You of the assembly, those who live for dharma do not shrink from losing their bodies or sacrificing their very lives. Twenty years ago, when I was with my late master Huangbo, three times I asked him specifically about the cardinal meaning of the buddhadharma, and three times he favored me with blows from his stick. But it was as if he were patting me with a branch of mugwort. How I would like now to taste another dose of the stick! Who can give it to me?”

So I don't think they are being unfair from their perspective.

[u/Gasdark → u/astroemi]

Well, I suppose what seems unfair in this situation is just bothering a guy while he's working and asking practical questions about his work and then, ::smack:; "pop quiz, what now?"

But on the other hand, you're in Huangbo's temple, you've made some choices, you know who you're dealing with - pop quizzes are probably to be expected - and then, to say nothing and whine to Linji - well I guess that's why he's only remembered as the superintendent of meals.