Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime;
A Zen student came to Bankei and said: “Master, I have an ungovernable temper — how can I cure it?”
“Show me this temper,” said Bankei, “it sounds fascinating.”
“I haven’t got it right now,” said the student, “so I can’t show it to you.”
“Well then” said Bankei, “bring it to me when you have it.”
“But I can’t bring it just when I happen to have it,” protested the student. “It arises unexpectedly, and I would surely lose it before I got it to you.”
“In that case,” said Bankei, “it cannot be part of your true nature. If it were, you could show it to me at any time. When you were born you did not have it, and your parents did not give it to you — so it must come into you from the outside. I suggest that whenever it gets into you, you beat yourself with a stick until the temper can’t stand it, and runs away.”
[The full story can be found in The unborn: the life and teaching of Zen Master Bankei, 1622-1693 by Bankei , Normal Waddell, translator.]
