Chokan had a very beautiful daughter named Seijo. He also had a handsome young cousin named Ochu. Joking, he would often comment that they would make a fine married couple. Actually, he planned to give his daughter in marriage to another man. But young Seijo and Ochu took him seriously; they fell in love and thought themselves engaged. One day Chokan announced Seijo's betrothal to the other man. In rage and despair, Ochu left by boat. After several days journey, much to his astonishment and joy he discovered that Seijo was on the boat with him!
They went to a nearby city where they lived for several years and had two children. But Seijo could not forget her father; so Ochu decided to go back with her and ask the father's forgiveness and blessing. When they arrived, he left Seijo on the boat and went to the father's house. he humbly apologized to the father for taking his daughter away and asked forgiveness for them both.
"What is the meaning of all this madness?" the father exclaimed. Then he related that after Ochu had left, many years ago, his daughter Seijo had fallen ill and had lain comatose in bed since. Ochu assured him that he was mistaken, and, in proof, he brought Seijo from the boat. When she entered, the Seijo lying ill in bed rose to meet her, and the two became one.
Zen Master Goso, referrring to the legend, observed, "Seijo had two souls, one always sick at home and the other in the city, a married woman with two children. Which was the true soul?"
2006-09-13 10:25:18 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It takes you 10 minutes to read three or four paragraphs?
2006-09-13 10:31:17 · update #1
The soul that sayed and was ill was true to her love of Ochu, true and true to her honoring of her father. The one that left was true to her love of Ochu but was not true to her father. The "true" soul would be the ill one.
2006-09-13 10:41:06 · answer #1 · answered by mike g 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could you mean any of this? Although distinctions can be made about the soul, the soul is not divided. Plato in his work "The Republic" states their is the rational, spirited, and appetitive soul in a human person. Yet, he was only making distinctions between the faculties within this one soul. He was not saying there are three souls in the human person. We only have one soul. The girl at home and the girl in the city are the same soul of the same person.
Now, however, the question at the end of this tale is asking, "Which was the true soul?" What this means is which one was the truest identity and expression of Seijo? Was she always sad and sick for home even when pretending to enjoy marriage and city life or was she happily married and enjoyed city life while missing home. And from observation of the tale, the sick one at home was the truest identity of Seijo, because she never forgot her father even when married and in the city and this did eventually send her home.
May the Lord bless and keep you. May He let the light of His face shine upon you.
God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john
2006-09-13 10:44:46 · answer #2 · answered by som 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a pretty story. But which was the true soul? I think they're both true in equal measure. The story could be an analogy for the dichotomy that is present in most of us. We can be so horribly conflicted at times.
2006-09-13 10:27:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is this a modified version of A Midsummer Night's Dream?
2006-09-13 10:45:33 · answer #4 · answered by Pervy_Pirate 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The true soul is the happy one, living the life she wanted
2006-09-13 10:30:46 · answer #5 · answered by lowflyer1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a lot of baloney, people do not have two souls, and besides your story does not teach two souls, but two bodies. Not reality. What is your point?
2006-09-13 10:33:39 · answer #6 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you think this is a worthwhile question, I have some swamp land to sell you.
2006-09-13 10:28:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Whitey. The question is too long. I can't be bothered to read it.
2006-09-13 10:27:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
why such a long question..... no one will answer your question, they dont have 10 min. to read the entire thing....
2006-09-13 10:26:55 · answer #9 · answered by GoWhitey33 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
who cares, its only a silly story, and did not happen.
2006-09-13 10:34:05 · answer #10 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋