David Given Schwarm

Seppô came to Tokusan and became in charge of cooking food.

One day, the lunch was late.

Tokusan came down to the hall carrying his bowls.

Seppô said, “Old Master, the bell has not yet rung nor the drum sounded. Where are you going with your bowls?”

Thereupon Tokusan went back to his room.

Seppô told this to Gantô.

Gantô said, “Great Tokusan though he is, he has not yet realized the last word.”

Hearing of this, Tokusan sent his attendant to summon Gantô and then asked him, “Don’t you approve of this old monk?”

Gantô whispered his intention.

Tokusan remained silent.

Sure enough, the next day, when Tokusan ascended the rostrum, his talk was quite different from usual.

Gantô, rubbing his hands together, laughed and said, “Wonderful! How happy I am that our Old Man has realized the last word. From now on he’ll be subject to no one on earth.”