{"id":408,"date":"2009-01-27T18:01:00","date_gmt":"2009-01-27T18:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2009\/01\/that-door-is-not-for-you\/"},"modified":"2009-01-27T18:01:00","modified_gmt":"2009-01-27T18:01:00","slug":"that-door-is-not-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2009\/01\/that-door-is-not-for-you.html","title":{"rendered":"That Door is Not For You"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"See<\/a><\/p>\n

During the Q&A; at the Chicago Zen Center last Sunday, Sevan asked what I said to people who were considering leaving training. That brought this old Katagiri story to mind and it occurs to me that some blog readers might find it helpful (in a frustrating sort of way) as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

A monk who had once been an enthusiastic practitioner had lost his way. He was escaping over the wall of the monastery every night, going to the bar and drinking. Next morning he\u2019d wake up at 4:00 a.m. and bob sleepily through zazen and then drag himself resentfully through the day. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, the teacher invited the monk into his six-feet-by-six-feet meeting room and said to him, \u201cEvery night you get drunk. Your sitting, chanting, and working have no energy. This is not Zen. If you are not going to train, GET OUT!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The monk was furious. \u201cFine! I\u2019ll leave.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Just as the monk approached the sliding paper-screen door behind him, the teacher shouted, \u201cThat door is not for you!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
<\/span> <\/span><\/span>
<\/span>The monk went to the door to the right. Again the teacher screamed, \u201cThat door is not for you!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The monk went to the door to his left and again the teacher screamed, \u201cThat door is not for you.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then the monk exploded, \u201cYou told me to get out but then you say \u2018That door is not for you.\u2019 What should I do?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Calmly, the master replied, \u201cIf you cannot get out, please sit down.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The monk went on to become the teacher\u2019s successor.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing that strikes me from this story is that the monk was put in a situation where he had to either not follow the teachers direction to leave or not follow his direction not to go through each door. Given this double bind, his true colors appeared by the direction he chose not to follow.<\/p>\n

It is surprisingly difficult for most people to really get out of Zen. Once the Way Heart begins to open, nothing can hold it<\/span><\/span> back. Therefore, Katagiri Roshi once said, \u201cDon\u2019t stick your nose into Zen Buddhism<\/a>. If you do, you might not be able to pull it out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

During the Q&A; at the Chicago Zen Center last Sunday, Sevan asked what I said to people who were considering leaving training. That brought this old Katagiri story to mind and it occurs to me that some blog readers might find it helpful (in a frustrating sort of way) as well. A monk who had […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nThat Door is Not For You<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"During the Q&A; at the Chicago Zen Center last Sunday, Sevan asked what I said to people who were considering leaving training. 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