Changsha Jingcen
Jap., Chosha (alt.,Chosa) Keishin
Changsha(city in China) Scenic Mountain
| born: c. 800 died: 868 place: China |
aka: "Tiger" Cen (Ch., Hucen)
| stories: Osho No Mind: The Flowers of Eternity, ch. 5 Zen: The Mystery and the Poetry of the Beyond, ch. 1 Zen: The Solitary Bird, Cuckoo of the Forest, ch. 6 |
Chinese simplified:
| oshobob The Living Workshop |
| Zen Masters |
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| Chosa was a disciple of Nansen and a contemporary of Tokusan, Rinzai and Isan. One day Chosa went for a walk and when he returned to the gate, the head monk asked him, “Osho, where have you been strolling?” Chosa replied, “I have come from walking in the hills.” The head monk said, “Where have you been?” Chosa said, “First I went following the fragrant grasses, and now I have returned in pursuit of the falling blossoms.” At this the head monk commented, “You are full of the spring.” Chosa replied, “Better than the autumn dews falling on the lotus leaves.” Certainly, to be full of spring yourself is far more beautiful than the autumn dews falling on the lotus leaves. That is one of the most beautiful things to watch: when autumn dews fall on the lotus leaves and shine in the morning sun like real pearls. But of course it is a momentary experience. As the sun rises, the autumn dews start evaporating. Soon there will be no autumn dews. A few will have evaporated into the air, a few will have slipped down from the leaves, to the ocean, but all will be gone within a few minutes. This temporary beauty cannot be compared, certainly, with an eternal spring in your being. You look back as far as you can, and it has always been there. You look forward as much as you can, and you will be surprised: it is your very being. Wherever you are it will be there, and the flowers will continue to shower on you. This is spiritual spring... --Osho No Mind: The Flowers of Eternity, ch. 5 |