The Zen master Hakuin lived in a town in Japan. He was held in high regard and many people came to him for spiritual teaching. Then it happened that the teenage daughter of his next-door neighbor became pregnant. When being questioned by her angry parents as to the identity of the father, she finally told them that he was Hakuin. In great anger the parents rushed over to Hakuin and told him with much shouting and accusing that their daughter had confessed that he was the father. All he replied was "Is that so?"
News of the scandal spread throughout the town and beyond. The Master lost his reputation. This did not trouble him. Nobody came to see him anymore. He remained unmoved. When the child was born the parents brought the baby to Hakuin "You are the father so you look after him." The Master took loving care of the child. A year later, the mother remorsefully confessed to her parents that the real father of the child was the young man who worked at the butcher shop. In great distress they went to see Hakuin to apoligize and ask for forgiveness. "We are really sorry. We have come to take the baby back. Our daughter confessed that you are not the father." "Is that so?" is all he would say as he handed the baby over to them.

The Master responds to falsehood and truth, bad news and good news in exactly the same way. He allows the form of the moment, good or bad, to be as it is and so does not become a participant in human drama. Events are not personalized. He is so completely at one with what happens that what happens has no power over him anymore. Only if you resist what happens are you at the mercy of what happens, and the world will determine your happiness and unhappiness.

Yeah, but what I wanna know is: What price glory?

But, upon reflection, a great post.

Nice! I think I'll try that more often.

How true.
just about fell off my big ball, reading that here on DV

"He allows the form of the moment, good or bad, to be as it is and so does not become a participant in human drama.'

I think if you take on the caregiving duties for a child that isn't yours, you have become a participant in human drama, no?

Not really because he accepted the child as his own and loved it. He didnt bring his own emotions into it and he didnt cause any drama with his actions or words.

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