The Master's Etiquette

Anecdotes

oi-Staff

By Staff

Thursday, May 21, 2009, 14:59

The Prince Governor of the Prefecture with the royal princes and scholars , one day visited the temple. The master who remained seated in the Ch'an seat enquired, " Great prince have you understanding of this? The prince replied to the master, "No I cannot grasp it"

The master then said "Since from a very young age I have maintained a vegetarian diet and hence even if I see people I do not have the strength to descend from the Ch'an seat" The prince then left the temple with great admiration for the master.

The next day a messenger sent by the prince visited the master. The master descended from his seat to receive him. The master's puzzled attendant asked , "Master you did not move from your seat on seeing the prince, but why did you descended from your seat on seeing his messenger"

The master retorted " My etiquette is different from yours. When a superior class of man comes, I deal with him from my seat. When a man belonging to the middle cadre comes, I get down to deal with him and when the man of the low cadre turns up, I step outside the temple gate...."