Zen X-files : Case #7 – Let's have some tea (禪門國際公案7 – 喫茶去)

Case #7 : Let’s have some tea

One day a Zen master asked a newcomer in a temple : “Have you been to this temple before?”

The newcomer answered : “No, I haven’t.”

Zen master said : “Let’s have some tea.” [1]

The Zen master asked another Buddhist monk the same question.

And the Buddhist monk answered : “Yes, I have come here before.”

Zen master once again said : “Let’s have some tea.”

The abbot of the temple felt curious and asked : “Master, Why do you tell everybody “Let’s have some tea” whether or not they have come here before?”

The Zen master told the abbot to come closer, and the abbot approached.

Then the Zen master told him : “Let’s have some tea.” [2]

[1] It’s a custom for the host to serve tea to the guest in traditional Chinese culture. And today most people think that having tea has a symbolic meaning in Zen, most likely coming from this famous case.

[2] Why having tea? Again, we see that words are more than just words. It’s the same as having tea. It may imply that we all have the abilities to become Buddha, and everybody whoever they are can learn the teachings of Zen. But perhaps having tea is just having tea ^_^.

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公案7 : 喫茶去

趙州從諗禪師問新到：「曾到此間麼？」

新到曰：「曾到：」

師曰：「喫茶去。」

又問僧，僧曰：「不曾到。」

師曰：「喫茶去。」

後院主問曰：「為甚麼曾到也云喫茶去，不曾到也云喫茶去？」

師召院主，主應喏。

師曰：「喫茶去。」[1]

[1] 大家一起來吃茶去吧^_^

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