[ He never accepted you ]

A great Zen mystic was celebrating a certain festival which is celebrated only on your Master's birthday. But people were puzzled. They asked him, "As far as we know you have never had any Master. We have also heard rumors that you had approached a great master, Bokoju, many times, but he always refused you to accept as a disciple. Not only that - he used to chase you out of his hut. We have also heard because of your continuous persistence, he had beaten you several times, and once had had thrown you, physically, out of the window of his hut. He never accepted you, he never initiated you - why you are celebrating this day? This is to be celebrated only to your Master's birthday."

And the Zen mystic said, "Yes, he was my Master. His refusal, his thowing me away, his constant rejection, was his initiation. He was saying: 'Be a light unto yourself - there is no need to follw me.' Because of his continuous refusal I became enlightened sitting under a tree. There was nobody to cling to."

 

[Bruce's remark:

'Be a light unto yourself' - this is the last statement of Buddha. And it is also Buddha's first statement. In fact it is His whole message - whole of His life Buddha was repeating the same message again and again and again.

A buddha is simply a man whose heart is full of light, a buddha is one who has become a flam, eternal flame which cannot be extinguished. And the problem of most great Masters is: How to give this message? 'Because of his continuous refusal I became enlightened sitting under a tree' - Master Bokoju's refusal, his constant rejection, was his way ]

 

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