Koans

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121

Fables
⇐Aim Of Buddhism ⇒

Sato-Kaiseki was very much disturbed by the implications of Copernicus' heliocentric theory, which, of course, was inconsistent with the old Buddhist cosmology in which Mount Sumeru occupies the center of the universe. He reasoned that if the Buddhist view of the cosmos were proved false, the triple world, and the twenty-five forms of existence (Trailokya) would be reduced to nonsense – resulting in the negation of Buddhism itself. So he immediately set about writing a book in defense of the Mount Sumeru position, sparing himself no effort.

When he had finished the work he took it at once to Master Ekido and presented it triumphantly.

After leafing through the first few pages the master thrust it back, shaking his head and saying: "How stupid! Don't you realize that the aim of Buddhism is to shatter the triple world and the twenty-five forms of existence? Why stick to such utterly worthless things and treasure Mount Sumeru? Blockhead!"

Dumbfounded, Kaiseki shoved the book under his arm and quickly went home.

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Fire! Where? ~~~~~ Kind Whack

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