amra@ihuxj.UUCP (Steven L. Aldrich) (12/09/84)
I humbly submit the following for your perusal and/or enjoyment.
The Chess Game [+]
A young man who had a bitter disappointment in life went to a
remote monastery and said to the abbot: "I am disillusioned with
life and wish to be freed from these sufferings. But I have no
capacity for sticking long at anything. I could never do long years
of meditation and study and austerity; I should relapse and be drawn
back to the world again, painful though I know it to be. Is there
any short way for people like me?" "There is", said the abbot, "if
you are really determined. Tell me, what have you studied, what have
you concentrated on most in your life?" "Why, nothing really. We were
rich, and I did not have to work. I suppose the thing I really was
interested in was chess. I spent most of my time at that."
The abbot thought for a moment, then said to his attendant: "Call
such-and-such a monk, and tell him to bring a chessboard and men."
The monk came with the board ad the abbot set up the men. He sent
for a sword and showed it to the two. "O monk", he said, "you have
vowed obedience to me as your abbot, and now I require it of you. You
will play a game of chess with this youth, and if you lose I shall cut
off your head with this sword. But I promise that you will be reborn in
paradise. If you win, I shall cut off the head of this man; chess is the
only thing he has ever tried hard at, and if he loses he deserves to lose
his head also." They looked at the abbot's face and saw that he meant it:
he would cut off the head of the loser.
They began to play. With the opening moves the youth felt the sweat
trickling down to his knees as he played for his life. The chessboard
became the whole world; he was entirely concentrated on it. At first he
had somewhat the worst of it, but then the other made an inferior move
and he seized his chance to launch a strong attack. As his opponent's
position crumbled, he looked covertly at him. He saw a face of
intelligence and sincerity, worn with years of austerity and effort. He
thought of his own worthless life, and a wave of compassion came over
him. He deliberately made a blunder and then another blunder, ruining
his position and leaving himself defenseless.
The abbot suddenly leaned forward and upset the board. The two contestans
sat stupefied. "There is no winner and no loser," said the abbot slowly,
"there is no head to fall here. Only two things are required," and he
turned to the young man, "complete concentration, and compassion. You have
today learned them both. You were completely concentrated on the game, but
then in that concentration you could feel compassion and sacrifice your
life for it. Now stay here a few months and persue our training in this
spirit and your enlightenment is sure." He did so and got it.
I believe this is a good illistration of the "mind-set" required for
"ANY" progress in religious/spiritual/secular situation. I welcome any
comments/opinions/view-points in this matter. Have an Interesting Day!
Peace & Best Wishes;
Steve Aldrich (ihnp4!ihuxj!amra)
"The wild geese do not intend to cast their reflection;
The water has no mind to receive their image."
[+] Source for this story/parable is: "The Gospel According to Zen"
edited by Robert Sohl and Audrey Carr.