Friday, September 18, 2015

禅宗公案 Zen Koan – 月船和尚 Moon Boat Monk




月船和尚道行颇高,尤其擅长绘画。
但他为人作画时有个条件,那就是必须先付报酬,否则决不动笔,而且他要的报酬非常高,因此得了小气画家的恶名

一天,一名艺妓想让他为自己画一幅画。

“那要看你能付多少。”

月船和尚沉静地问道。

这位女子熟知月船的脾气,回答说:
“你要多少我就付多少,但我要你当面作画。”

第二天,月船和尚被请到了艺妓的住处,那时她正为他的顾主举行一次宴会。

月船笔法娴熟,画风老道,几笔便完成了一副画,然后向艺妓索要了当时最高的酬劳。

那位艺妓付了笔酬,转身对她的顾客说:
“这个和尚的画虽不错,但心地肮脏,只知道要钱。
出于这样一种污秽心灵的作品,是不宜挂在客厅里的,它只能装饰我的一条裙子。”

她于是脱下正穿着的一条裙子,要月船在它的上面再画一幅。

月船依然沉静地问:“你能出多少?”

艺妓鄙夷地哼道:“随便。”

月船开了一个更高的价格,然后依照要求画了一幅,就离开了。

后来人们才知道,月船和尚居住的那个地区时常发生灾荒,富人不肯出钱救助穷人,因此他建了一个任何人都不知道的秘密仓库,里面贮满稻谷,以供赈济之需。
而购买稻谷的钱正出自于画画的报酬。

月船的师父生前发愿建一座寺庙,但不幸早亡,他要完成师父未竟的心愿,于是积极筹款。
除此以外,月船还用这些钱为当地人修了一条路。

当月船和尚靠绘画攒够了钱,完成了这些善举之后,立即抛弃画笔,退隐山林。

~~~~~~~~~~~


The story:
Moon boat monk is one with high attainment and a good artist or painter.

To commission a painting from him, one has to pay high fees upfront, else he won't start to paint.
Thus he was labelled as a petty painter.

One day, a famous geisha commissioned him to paint her portrait and must be done Live with her presence.
Monk agreed, as long as she can pay his price.

The next day, Monk went to the brothel and the geisha was entertaining.
Monk expertly completed the portrait in a few swift strokes and collected the High Fee.

After paying up, the geisha said: 
This monk's painting skill is not bad but is heart is dirty, only know to ask money. A work from this polluted heart is not fit to display in the guest hall and only fit to decorate one of my skirts.

She then removed one of her skirts and ask Monk to draw on it.

The Monk agreed as long as she can pay his price.
After drawing, Monk collected his fee and left.

Later, people realised that the area where Monk stays has frequent famine, the rich refused to sponsor funds to help the poor. Thus, Monk build a secret warehouse and bought grains to fill it, as reserves in case of needs.
And the funds from his paintings, all for the needs when famine strikes.

Monk's guru has a wish to build a temple during his lifetime, but he die early and Monk steadfastly accumulate funds to help his guru fulfils his wish.

Other than these, Monk also used his funds to build a road.

Upon completion of funds raising and other charitable deeds, Monk threw done his paint brush and retreat to the mountain forest.

~~~~~~~~~

Dear all,
with the Fundamentals of Buddha Dharma that you have learn so far, can you enumerate the Keys that Moon Boat Monk practiced or applied?

Can you also comment on "Why others have a bad impression of Monk?"


Cheers all.


Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef

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