聽畫的盲公 (Blind man listening to paintings)
Once upon a time, there was a famous Buddhist scholar who was also a very talented artist. One day, he displayed his paintings at home. Near the end of his exhibition, there was a row at his door.
There was a blind man who wanted to come in to see his paintings. The guards refused his entry, and thus the row.
The blind man was a highly trained Zen master. His Zen skill was at the level of "蚊翼蜂动 土下蚁行". He could distinguish whether the wind was generated by the wings of a mosquito or a bee, and what kind of ants was walking in the soil under the feet.
The artist let the blind man in.
The blind man asked if he could touch a painting.
The artist said yes.
The blind man touched a painting, and was able to sense the thoughts and emotions of the artist while he was stroking the paint brush on the canvas.
The blind man said, "You have a lot of pride in you. You are craving for recognition. But I guess that is normal for an ordinary man. I am here to listen to your paintings. Could you tell me about them?"
The artist explained the paintings to the blind man. The blind man was able to sense the artist's compassion and patience in thoroughly explaining each painting.
It was getting dark outside, so the blind man took his leave. After the blind man left, the artist's disciple said that the blind man's skill was amazing.
The artist said, "No, he's not good enough."
The disciple didn't understand.
The artist told the disciple, "Just take a lantern with you. Go out and tell the blind man that this lantern is my gift to him."
The disciple did as told. The blind man was fumed, and said, "You know perfectly well that I am blind. Yet you gave me a lantern? What's this supposed to mean? I thought you were so kind and compassionate and respectful. Are you making fun of me?"
The blind man was rowdy. The artist went out to the blind man and said, "This lantern is not for you to see the road. It is meant for the others on the road to see you, so that they won't bump into you. I gave this lantern to you so to protect you."
There was a blind man who wanted to come in to see his paintings. The guards refused his entry, and thus the row.
The blind man was a highly trained Zen master. His Zen skill was at the level of "蚊翼蜂动 土下蚁行". He could distinguish whether the wind was generated by the wings of a mosquito or a bee, and what kind of ants was walking in the soil under the feet.
The artist let the blind man in.
The blind man asked if he could touch a painting.
The artist said yes.
The blind man touched a painting, and was able to sense the thoughts and emotions of the artist while he was stroking the paint brush on the canvas.
The blind man said, "You have a lot of pride in you. You are craving for recognition. But I guess that is normal for an ordinary man. I am here to listen to your paintings. Could you tell me about them?"
The artist explained the paintings to the blind man. The blind man was able to sense the artist's compassion and patience in thoroughly explaining each painting.
It was getting dark outside, so the blind man took his leave. After the blind man left, the artist's disciple said that the blind man's skill was amazing.
The artist said, "No, he's not good enough."
The disciple didn't understand.
The artist told the disciple, "Just take a lantern with you. Go out and tell the blind man that this lantern is my gift to him."
The disciple did as told. The blind man was fumed, and said, "You know perfectly well that I am blind. Yet you gave me a lantern? What's this supposed to mean? I thought you were so kind and compassionate and respectful. Are you making fun of me?"
The blind man was rowdy. The artist went out to the blind man and said, "This lantern is not for you to see the road. It is meant for the others on the road to see you, so that they won't bump into you. I gave this lantern to you so to protect you."
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