The Bowl (Buoi)

[SPJ]

The Buddhist monks use Buoi (begging bowl or cup) (Bachi in Japanese, patram in Sankrit) to collect donations.

Monk A and B were told by the old priest to go and collect some donation for the day. It is also called neutralization of Yuan (Hua Yuan).

Monk A returned shortly with enough collection for the day. That is enough for food, vegetable etc.

Monk B took longer time but came back with a lot of funds.

The old priest praised A and discredited B.

[SPJ]

They both were confused.

The old priest then said that there was a farmer that attended his rice paddie and garden everyday.

He would weed and water.

One day he thought that perhaps he pulled the stalks or stems higher then the rice and vegetables may grow faster.

The second day they seemed to be taller.

He did the second pulling, the third and the fourth.

He returned on the fifth day and saw all the plants were dead.

[SPJ]

The significance or Chan of the story is that do things that are necessary for the time and nothing more.

In the face of nature disaster of bibilical proportions;

People will seek the meanings of all this in their faiths.

We may offer our hands to help.

However, let them find the consolations, comfort and answers from their faiths, from themselves and for themselves.

[SPJ]

The collection bowls were used to mean many things in life.

What is it in your collection bowl?

When you give, you shall receive. (Christian)

Any stories or comments?

[SPJ]

The bowl or rice bowl is used to mean salary or a position/job that generates income.

If you work for the government or have a steady job, it is said that you have an iron bowl. (Te Fan Wan) It will not be lost or broken easily.

If you hold a position in government or military, it is said that you have a hat. (Mou Zi) You are an official or serviceman.

If you lose your hat, that means you lose your rank or position.

There are Dao's and bibles (Jing) for how to keep your job/bowl or hat.

There are tons of writings, sayings, fables, why and how.

[SPJ]

There is a very popular story.

There is a monk. He would go to the river and fetch the water for drinking.

There are 2 monks. They would carry a bamboo trunk with the wooden bucket to fetch the water.

There are 3 monks and yet there is no water to drink.

Why?

Because it takes only 2 people to carry the bamboo trunk or Zhu Dang Zi.

And every one wants to be the third person not to go.

[fa_jing]

I dig it.

[SPJ]

Cool.

[David Jamieson]

The most useful part of a bowl is it's emptiness.

contemplate grasshoppers.

[WanderingMonk]

Originally posted by SPJ
Monk A and B were told by the old priest to go and collect some donation for the day. It is also called neutralization of Yuan (Hua Yuan).

technically, it is translated as neutralization. but, if it is truly neturalization, does it mean, after the monk received the offering, the "yuan" (affinity) between the monk and the sameritan ends. if that's the case, then it is neturalization. the monk goes out to severe his affinity with the world. so, everytime, someone give an offering, another tie is severe. at some point, the monk will break all of his ties with the world, and he can go on the next world?

or does it mean the monk is establishing ties? a sameritan has made an offering, and hence the monk is in debt to the sameritan. therefore, some of the monk's merit goes to the samiertan. or the monk will come back to help the sameritan when the sameritan is in trouble. or the monk is waiting to help the sameritan but first the sameritan must establish an affinity. for not even the buddha can help someone who does not have "yuan fen" (affinity) with buddhist teaching.

neutralization, might not be the appropriate word to use.
materialization? equal exchange?

[David Jamieson]

ask for nothing.
expect nothing.

hold the bowl.
that is all.

[WanderingMonk]

Originally posted by Kung Lek
The most useful part of a bowl is it's emptiness.

contemplate grasshoppers.

but, master, if it is empty, what good is it?
to consume? so consumption is good? if it is empty, so it must be filled. so it need to continue to consume? I am so confuse.

[David Jamieson]

first, don't call me master.

second, without the emptiness, the bowl is no longer a bowl.

[WanderingMonk]

Originally posted by Kung Lek
ask for nothing.
expect nothing.

hold the bowl.
that is all.

should I be a stone? If I ask for nothing, and expect nothing, what am I to do?

I am just a rock that hold the bowl?

why ask for nothing? why expect nothing? so, I can be a stone?

[David Jamieson]

ask for nothing, because you ahve your breath.

expect nothing because this too shall pass.

you are not stone, nor are you a rock, you are flesh and blood like the rest of us.