But Hui Neng said, “Do not reject me.” So the master accepted him and told him to go just behind the monastery, in the kitchen of the monastery. It was a big monastery of five hundred monks. The master said to Hui Neng, “Just go behind the monastery and help in the kitchen, and do not come again to me. Whenever it will be needed, I will come to you.”

No meditation was given to Hui Neng, no scriptures to read, study or meditate upon. Nothing was taught to him, he was just thrown into the kitchen. The whole monastery was working. There were pundits, scholars, and there were meditators, and there were yogis, and the whole monastery was agog. Everyone was working and this Hui Neng was just cleaning rice and doing kitchen work.

Twelve years passed. Hui Neng didn’t go again to the master because it was not allowed. He waited, he waited, he waited… he simply waited. He was just taken as a servant. Scholars would come, meditators would come, and no one would even pay any attention to him. And there were big scholars in the monastery.

Then the master declared that his death was near, and now he wanted to appoint someone to function in his place, so he said, “Those who think they are enlightened should compose a small poem of four lines. In those four lines you should put all that you have gained. And if I approve any poems and see that the lines show that enlightenment has happened, I will choose someone as my successor.”

There was a great scholar in the monastery, and no one attempted the poem because everyone knew that he was going to win. He was a great knower of scriptures, so he composed four lines. Those four lines were just like this… the meaning of it was like this: “Mind is like a mirror, and dust gathers on it. Clean the dust, and you are enlightened.”

But even this great scholar was afraid because the master would know. He already knows who is enlightened and who is not. Though all he has written is beautiful, it is the very essence of all the scriptures — mind is like a mirror, and dust gathers on it; remove the dust, and you are enlightened — this was the whole gist of all the Vedas, but he knew that was all that it was. He had not known anything, so he was afraid.

He didn’t go directly to the master, but in the night he went to the hut, to his master’s hut, and wrote all the four lines on the wall without signing — without any signature. In this way, if the master approved and said, “Okay, this is right,” then he would say, “I have written them.” If he said, “No! Who has written these lines?” then he would keep silent, he thought.

But the master approved. In the morning the master said, “Okay!” He laughed and said, “Okay! The man who has written this is an enlightened one.” So the whole monastery began to talk about it. Everyone knew who had written it. They were discussing and appreciating, and the lines were beautiful — really beautiful. Then some monks came to the kitchen. They were drinking tea and they were talking, and Hui Neng was there serving them. He heard what had happened. The moment he heard those four lines, he laughed. So someone asked, “Why are you laughing, you fool? You do not know anything; for twelve years you have been serving in the kitchen. Why are you laughing?”

No one had even heard him laugh before. He was just taken as an idiot who would not even talk. So he said, “I cannot write, and I am not an enlightened one either, but these lines are wrong. So if someone comes with me, I will compose four lines. If someone comes with me, he can write it on the wall. I cannot write; I do not know writing.”

So someone followed him — just as a joke. A crowd came there and Hui Neng said, “Write: There is no mind and there is no mirror, so where can the dust gather? One who knows this is enlightened.”

But the master came out and he said, “You are wrong,” to Hui Neng. Hui Neng touched his feet and returned back to his kitchen.

In the night when everyone was asleep, the master came to Hui Neng and said, “You are right, but I could not say so before those idiots — and they are learned idiots. If I had said that you are appointed as my successor, they would have killed you. So escape from here! You are my successor, but do not tell it to anyone. And I knew this the day you came. Your aura was growing; that was why no meditation was given to you. There was no need. You were already in meditation. And these twelve years’ silence — not doing anything, not even meditation — emptied you completely of your mind, and the aura has become full. You have become a full moon. But escape from here! Otherwise they will kill you.

“You have been here for twelve years, and the light has been constantly spreading from you, but no one observed it. And they have been coming to the kitchen, everyone has been coming to the kitchen every day — thrice, four times. Everyone passes through here; that is why I posted you in the kitchen. But no one has recognized your aura. So you escape from here.”

Osho – The Book of Secrets

What Is the Spiritual Moral / Meaning of the “No Mind, No Mirror” Story?

This story unveils the intricate dance between enlightenment and worldly recognition, presenting a narrative that transcends the superficiality of societal validation. It delves into the profound realms of spiritual awakening and the intricate subtleties of perceiving truth beyond the facade of conventional wisdom.

Hui Neng's journey underlines the essence of spiritual evolution, navigating the path of enlightenment through unorthodox means. Placed in the monastery kitchen, devoid of explicit teachings or meditation, he embarked on an unconventional odyssey. While scholars and practitioners engrossed themselves in scriptures and practices, Hui Neng, hidden behind the guise of a mere kitchen server, underwent a silent transformation.

Twelve years of seemingly mundane existence, devoid of scholarly pursuits or spiritual practices, were, in reality, a journey of profound internal transformation. His silence wasn't of ignorance but of inner fulfillment. His duties in the kitchen, seemingly menial, acted as a crucible where the shackles of the mind were gradually released, paving the way for his aura to blossom into its full radiance.

When the master initiated a test to appoint a successor, the learned scholars and practitioners vied for recognition, presenting their composed lines as a testament to their perceived enlightenment. The scholar's lines, beautifully encapsulating the essence of scriptures, failed to mask the absence of true inner awakening, resulting in hesitation and fear of exposure.

However, amidst this quest for recognition, Hui Neng, the silent kitchen worker, unveiled a truth that transcended the established wisdom. His four lines, though seemingly simple, carried the profound essence of enlightenment, challenging the conventional understanding of the mind and its reflections. His response, “There is no mind and there is no mirror,” pierced through the illusions of duality, resonating with a wisdom that surpassed the limitations of scholarly knowledge.

Despite his wisdom, when the master rejected his lines in the presence of others, it wasn't a denial of truth but a safeguarding of Hui Neng's life. The master, aware of the danger posed by the jealousy and ignorance of the learned, sought to protect his successor. Hui Neng, unaware of his own enlightenment and loyal to his master's directive, retreated to the anonymity of the kitchen, withholding his true stature.

This story transcends the conventional paradigms of recognition and reveals the enigmatic nature of spiritual awakening. It unveils the discrepancy between perceived wisdom and the truth that resides within. Hui Neng's journey exemplifies the essence of humility, demonstrating that enlightenment need not flaunt its radiance to be impactful. His silent transformation and the master's concealed recognition underscore the depth of spirituality beyond external validation, emphasizing the intrinsic value of inner awakening over outward acclaim.

The post No Mind, No Mirror – A Zen Buddhist Spiritual Story by Osho appeared first on Spiritual Growth Events.

Below is a beautiful Buddhist story showing in a unique way the inevitability of death and the importance of accepting that every person alive — our loved ones included — will leave their last breath one day.

Buddha was staying in a village. A woman came to him, weeping and crying and screaming. Her child, her only child, had suddenly died. Because Buddha was in the village, people said, “Don’t weep. Go to this man. People say he is infinite compassion. If he wills it, the child can revive. So don’t weep. Go to this Buddha.” The woman came with the dead child, crying, weeping, and the whole village followed her – the whole village was affected. Buddha’s disciples were also affected; they started praying in their minds that Buddha would have compassion. He must bless the child so that he will be revived, resurrected.

Many disciples of Buddha started weeping. The scene was so touching, deeply moving. Everybody was still. Buddha remained silent. He looked at the dead child, then he looked at the weeping, crying mother and he said to the mother, “Don’t weep, just do one thing and your child will be alive again. Leave this dead child here, go back to the town, go to every house and ask every family if someone has ever died in their family, in their house. And if you can find a house where no one has ever died, then from them beg something to be eaten, some bread, some rice, or anything – but from the house where no one has ever died. And that bread or that rice will revive the child immediately. You go. Don’t waste time.”

The woman became happy. She felt that now the miracle was going to happen. She touched Buddha’s feet and ran to the village which was not a very big one, very few cottages, a few families. She moved from one family to another, asking. But every family said, “This is impossible. There is not a single house – not only in this village but all over the earth – there is not a single house where no one has ever died, where people have not suffered death and the misery and the pain and the anguish that comes out of it.”

By and by the woman realized that Buddha had been playing a trick. This was impossible. But still the hope was there. She went on asking until she had gone around the whole village. Her tears dried, her hope died, but suddenly she felt a new tranquility, a serenity, coming to her. Now she realized that whosoever is born will have to die. It is only a question of years. Someone will die sooner, someone later, but death is inevitable. She came back and touched Buddha’s feet again and said to him, “As people say, you really do have a deep compassion for people.”

Story source: The Book of Secrets, by Osho

What Is the Spiritual Moral / Meaning of Osho's “Death Is Inevitable” Story?

The story reveals a profound spiritual truth about the inevitability of death and the human experience of suffering. Through Buddha's enigmatic response to the grieving mother, it unveils the universal reality that death is an integral part of human existence. It reflects the spiritual principle that the cycle of life and death is an immutable law governing all beings, and the acceptance of this truth brings a deeper understanding of life's transient nature. The woman's realization through her quest signifies the awakening to the universal truth that birth and death are interconnected aspects of the human journey.

Additionally, the narrative invites contemplation on the nature of attachment and impermanence. Buddha's instruction to seek food from a household untouched by death serves as a metaphorical representation of the human yearning for permanence in an impermanent world. It emphasizes the spiritual truth that attachment to an idealized state of permanence leads to suffering, as everything in the material realm is subject to change and eventual dissolution. The woman's journey through the village symbolizes the acceptance of impermanence, leading to a newfound serenity amid the recognition of life's transient nature.

Moreover, the story highlights the transformative power of acceptance and surrender. As the woman traverses the village seeking the impossible, she undergoes a profound inner shift. Her initial desperation transforms into acceptance, leading to a newfound tranquility within. It signifies the spiritual principle that true peace arises from accepting life's inherent uncertainties and acknowledging the inevitability of death. Her return to Buddha and acknowledgment of his deep compassion signifies her newfound understanding of the compassionate acceptance of life's impermanence.

Furthermore, the narrative encourages a shift in perspective from seeking miracles to embracing the wisdom within life's natural course. Buddha's unconventional response challenges the conventional expectation of a miraculous resurrection and instead directs attention to a deeper spiritual truth. It prompts a shift in focus from seeking external interventions to recognizing the profound teachings embedded in life's inherent realities. The woman's realization embodies the spiritual awakening that true compassion lies not in altering the course of life but in embracing its inherent truths with grace and understanding.

In essence, this story unfolds as a spiritual lesson on the inevitability of death, impermanence, and the transformative power of acceptance. It beckons us to transcend the illusion of permanence and attachment, inviting us to embrace life's transient nature with compassion and understanding. Through Buddha's teachings, it guides us to find serenity amidst life's uncertainties, encouraging a shift from seeking miracles to embracing the profound wisdom inherent in life's natural rhythms. Ultimately, it inspires a deeper understanding of compassion and acceptance in navigating the human journey marked by impermanence and inevitable change.

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