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View submission: A Couple of Questions Regarding Koans
I didn't think about the apparent humor that is weaved throughout Zen literature here and there. That definitely changes the way I look at these koans. Makes sense though: Zen masters have such a good sense of humor, they're always laughing :)
Comment by GentleDragona at 13/01/2025 at 14:51 UTC*
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Indeed! As the great Zen Master, Wuzzname, so wisely declared: "In the end, all that can be had is a good laugh." Words of Wisdom. If I can't find any type of humor, whatsoever, in a religion; then I simply discard said religion, for lack of the Essential Spirit. Though many others may not see the subtle humor in the Gospels of the Great Zen Master Christ, I do. Ya simply must put yourself there, in the story unfolding, and use your imagination.
I'll give ya an example. Let's say I'm studying The Gospel of Matthew, and I'm jazzed because we've gotten to me favorite part; actually, the very part which makes this my favorite Gospel, of the 4. We're at the banquet, macking out on some grub with Jesu and his aspiring Nite Dawg Knights (aka apostles). Now, I'm mackin' out on what's definitely the best, and most succulent, greasy-ass barbecue rib that I've ever sunk me teeth into, in me whole bloody life! Fortunately, the grease hasn't yet migrated from my hands and face, to travel throughout the fabric of my robe, thus rendering me into Gentle - The Literally and Reluctantly Annointed Grease Rag.
Excellent, cuz I give you a nudge with my elbow and point your attention to a little drama that seems to be brewing between our Awakened host and that overdressed, holier-than-thou, pack of Pharisees that've been snoopin' around since we've been here; eyeballin' us like we're gonna break out, any minute now, with the lootin' and the pillaging of the joint.
I whisper to ya, "Oh shit, I knew it! Listen close. Dem muthafuckas talkin' smack about us to Christos."
I listen too, and it was even worse than I'd originally thunk! Reckon it was the leader of the little group that was now angrily jabbing his finger at Jesu, accusing him and us, for breaking their made-up dining rules and (oh, I could hardly wait to hear how Jesu responded to these types of accusations!), dissing God? "Did that muthalicka just say what I think I heard him say?"
It didn't matter, cuz the meat of the argument we heard, loud and clear. I took a big ol' chomp outta my greasy barbecue rib and started smackin' my greasy-ass lips in tactile bliss. Hearing this typical venom spewing at Yeshua, accusingly all of us: " ... and your heathens don't even wash their hands, defiling the Lord's Sabbath!" "That mutha-" I started, thinkin' dere ain't no way I'm not gettin' in on this bullshit. But I didn't, because I sensed that Christ in Yeshua (looky here; his momma named him Yeshua, I'm gonna call him Yeshua! Can ya dig it?), and that Christ was Awake, fucking vibrating with Truth!!! Everyone present was silent, like one consciousness, focussed on Christos; fully anticipating his response that they already knew they couldn't possibly imagine. And like the virtuoso metaphysical poet that he is, and with perfect timing, he filled the silence and delivered this Truth with absolute and fearless conviction: "It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles .... But that which comes OUT!!!"
Shocked silence immediately followed this, what one might consider Yeshua's own rebuttal/accusation (and even antidote, to the Pharisee's venom), followed by the noise and movements of all the diners present; now awakened and animated into excited conversations with each other, triggered by the Real Rabbi's one statement that, not only smacked of undeniable Truthitude, but also, if truly understood and lived by, this Law taught by The Nazarene had the potential to obliterate the suppressive psychological prison that living under Formal Phariseetic Protocol had bound them to for thousands of years!
I looked over at you with a bigass smile on me face, wiped some more grease off me chin with my holy napkin, tilted my not-yet-finished-but-still-most-succulent greasy barbecue rib at ya, and declared this contemplative epiphany that had just hit me: "Daaaaammmn! Ya know what, Nite Dawg? That First-Class Nite Dawg Knight, of This Here Weird and Wonderful Round Fable, just gave us the right and proper Way of, not just diet, but Praise the Lord Thy Goddha!!!, diet and SEX!!!"
Hope ya enjoyed it, and since this is a freshly finished rough draft, all mistakes are unconsciously mine.
- by Gentle; Da Honky
Wit Seven Names