Swiss Warrior Monk – The Sword of Wisdom, which kills and gives life at the same moment!

As a warrior monk, one always lives on the battlefield of wisdom. The Logos is the sword that kills and at the same time brings life. Barefoot climbing the mountain of a thousand razor-sharp blades, every mistake is fatal.

Contemplation - Son Buddhism

Many good Ch'an (Son) monks were already gathered in the meditation hall. At that time, one old monk, about seventy years old, resided in the main temple. He had been a monk for the previous forty or fifty years; but had been attending only the doctrinal chanting and devotional prayers. He knew a lot about, these things, but of Ch'an meditation he knew nothing.

Just three days before the scheduled beginning of the special winter retreat, this old monk had come and inquired, "This inferior one would like to come daily from the main temple to attend the sitting session and to study with you superior ones."

Wisdom - Warrior Monk

The director of the meditation hall scolded him, "What are you talking about? Even if you offered to provide food for the whole season, still, in principle, we cannot accept you without a reservation. You shouldn't even ask."

The old monk didn't retreat, however, and requested over and over again. This news spread and finally reached the Son Master Song-Wol, who told everyone, "He might disturb our study, but still, we have to accept him. No one can stop him." So he told the old monk, "Why don't you come up here and study with us?"

The old monks answer was rather disappointing. He said that he could not provide the food he had promised because, "I have to worry about the property deeds and grains and the money I have loaned, and besides that I cannot leave my sick wife's bed."

Everyone who had been ready to study, expecting great fruits for this season, upon hearing this, sighed and their faith lowered. Since the order had come down from the master, no one could complain.

The old monk came daily from the main hall to study even though his time was irregular; one day at noon, while on another day he came at dawn with icicles hanging from his beard. When everyone was gathered, talking about the study, he seemed not to understand at all. The monks all laughed at him saying, "Even a monkey can enjoy heavenly pleasure by imitating the meditation postures. Is it possible for that kind of man to have some result?"

Reexamination - Warrior Monk

On break day, marking the retreat mid-point, the master, after descending the podium following a dharma talk, was drinking tea with several of the monks. For a moment, Hye-Am remembered one dharma talk which had been delivered about six years ago.

A young Son monk came to Seon Master Hye-Wol and asked, "What is the essence of 'Searching the ox while riding the ox?'"

The Son Master Hye-Wol looked at that young monk and answered with a question, "Why are you saying these words?"

"Was Son Master Hye-Wol's response to the young Son monk good or not?"

Son Master Song-Wol, as if to use the staff in criticism of master Hye-Wol said, "How could that old man possibly brighten the student's eye with that?" Hye-Am had only raised the question casually, but it had accidentally resulted in the staff-beating of Hye-Wol. It forced him to ask again, "Then Master, what would you have said for that question?"

Master Son-Wol said, "Ask me in exactly the same way as the young Son monk asked Hye-Wol." Hye-Am put on the kasa over his robe, prostrated three times, and then asked, "What is the essence of, Searching the ox while riding the ox?"

Dharma - Exchange

The master answered, "You are saying Searching the ox while riding the ox; don't mention the ox you are searching but fetch me the ox you are riding." Hye-Am sat speechlessly as did the other monks, except for the one who knew nothing about Son meditation, the one who only recently had begun to study, that old monk. He stood up from his seat and danced saying, "You all do not know this, but I got it!" Everyone laughed at him, "Just like the old saying, 'The diziness finally becomes epilepsy.' That old monk has finally become insane."

To the laughers, the master said, "Stop it!" Then he called the old monk to his room. He asked him about the Patriarchal Koans one-by-one. The old monk answered them all without hesitation. Finally the master recognized his enlightenment and gave him approval.

That old warrior monk, weeping in gratitude said loudly, "If you had not guided me correctly, I might have wandered all my life in the exit-less darkness."

(Story told by seon master Myo Vong)

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