You Are A Buddha

By Staff

Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 13:33

During the Meiji era in Tokyo, there lived two good masters with opposite characteristics. Unsho who was an instructor in Shingon and adhered faithfully to the principles of Buddhism. He abstained himself from intoxicating drinks and nor did he swallow a morsel after eleven in the morning.

Tanzan, the other teacher who was a professor of philosophy at the Imperial University on the other hand kept away from observing the Buddhist principles. He ate and slept when he felt like.

One day Unsho visited Tanzan who was enjoying wine at a time when the principles said that not a single drop of it should encounter the tongue of a Buddhist.

Tanzan greeted Unsho and invited him to have a drink.

Unsho answered : "I never drink"

Tanzan said : "One who does not drink is not even human"

Unsho was now visibly angry, retorted : "How could you call me inhuman if I do not indulge in intoxicating drinks ?"

"What am I if I am not a human?", he exclaimed.

"A Buddha !"said Tanzan.