Eagerness to practice


A monk approached Zen Master Yakusan with a problem. Master Yakusan told him to wait until the evening session.

At the end of the evening session, Master Yakusan said, "will the monk who approached me, earlier today, regarding a problem with practice, come forward.” As soon as the monk came forward Yakusan barged past him, without a word, and retired to his room.

Zen like Vichara deals in immediacy.

Eagerness to practice... “must be equal to that of a man kept under water trying to rise up to the surface for his life.” (Ramana Maharshi in Talk 28)

Waiting is not a valid option.

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