Lebowski Koan:   “I’m Perfectly Calm, Dude. Calmer Than You Are”

Mark’s Life Koan:   How Should I Receive Something I Don’t Like?

Traditional Case Koan from The Gateless Gate, Case 13, Tokusan Carries His Bowls:
One day Tokusan came down to the dining room, carrying his bowls. Seppo the cook called out to him, “Old Master, where are you going with your bowls when the bell has not rung and the drum has not sounded?” Tokusan turned at once and went back to his own room. Seppo told this occurrence to Ganto, who remarked: “Great master though he is, Tokusan has not yet grasped the last word of Zen”. Hearing of this, Tokusan sent his attendant to summon Ganto, and said to him, “Do you not approve of me?” Ganto leaned over and whispered his reply to him. Tokusan said nothing further. The next day, in his teisho, Tokusan was different from usual. Ganto, going towards the front of the hall, clapping his hands and laughing, said, “What a happy thing! The old man has now grasped the last word of Zen. From now on nobody will be able to get the better of him!”

more lebowski wisdom at:  http://dude.zenpeacemakers.org

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