The Master of the monastery was about to die. His disciples gathered around his bed. The head monk went closer to the Master and asked, "What is the meaning if life?". The Master responded, "Life is a river". "What do you mean? Life is a river?", the monk responded.
The Master looked up at him after a moment and said, "You mean Life isn't a river?". and immediately died.
2007-01-21 06:01:38 · 8 answers · asked by bm_rousseau 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
It only means that the zen master was delirious but was lucky to make a memorable exit. That's all.
2007-01-21 06:44:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe the Master questioned his wisdom, which I see to be a terrible way to leave yourself. Either that or he was using a Socratic form of teaching to try to tell the other monk to dedicate his life to figuring out the answer to the question of life being a river in that mannero f thinking. People do tend to understand things better if they figure them out firsthand rather than being told and taking another's word for it.
2007-01-21 15:09:53 · answer #2 · answered by Answerer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think beyond the proverbial "box."
How is a river formed and where does it end? From humidity from the oceans that go up to the clouds, droplets of water are formed, rain falls to the source of rivers, that travel in one direction, toward the end of the river, to the ocean; and this process continues on, endlessly.
Birth follows death (or death follows birth) and continues throughout time. It is a continuous process. Birth, death, rebirth... a continuum; it is endless.
The dying monk's question was rhetorical... "If not a river, then what?"
2007-01-21 14:33:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The value in asking the question is more important than the answer. We westerners are far too literal. Most Zen questions are never meant to be answered but instead are doorways into meditation.
2007-01-21 15:08:41 · answer #4 · answered by megalomaniac 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no "answer". that's part of the "adventure" of being human and enjoying free will. figuring out for yourself what's "real", and how to deal with your experiences. nevertheless, there do exist certain "strategies" which are preferable: like trying to attain deeper levels of consciousness and wisdom, being open minded, compassionate and as kind as is appropriate, as often as possible. when gertrude stein, artist/poet shortly before her death, was asked "what's the solution/answer"? she responded "is there a problem"?
2007-01-21 14:10:51 · answer #5 · answered by drakke1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think this is a joke by the master and the story has no esoteric meaning. Does it?
2007-01-21 14:20:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Life is a river" means that you'll never come back. It flows, it flows but never will flow from downstream to upstream. As you'll never come back, because such is time that always flows one way, go ahead.
2007-01-21 14:18:29 · answer #7 · answered by jacquesh2001 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it means that everyone has their own meaning of life.
2007-01-21 14:07:55 · answer #8 · answered by Jody B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋