some want to be Zen Masters

*Please see the notes on this picture at the bottom of this post. some want to be Zen Masters; they should try to be good carpenters. some want to be world honored sages; they should try to be good mechanics. some want to be saints— they should try to be good clerical help. the true master is a carpenter. the true sage is a mechanic. the true saint is a clerk. if you want a zen stick, I will take it from you. if you don’t want a zen stick. just pay attention and the truth will appear. * I came accross this photo on the internet and it so much reminded me of Zen Master Su Bong (Subong Sonsa) also known as Mu Deung Sunim as well as See Hoy Liao. There is a conversation in "Dropping Ashes on the Buddha" with See Hoy and Seung Sahn (Sungsan) about his practicing with three of the four Zen Masters in the Photo. It appears as 'Kongan Blues' on page 42 of that book. See Hoy is very confused at this time and tells Sungsan to go Fuck Himself. Many years later See Hoy became the First Zen Master to be sanctioned by Sungsan. Unfortunatley he died at the age of 50 during a koan interview with a student in Hong Kong. This snapshot contains a great history and brings dead words to life. Here is a simple Zen Practitioner who came to fruition and his veritable pantheon of Zen Masters who would lead him in the right direction. This photo contains four Zen masters: Dr. Thich Thien-An in the rear at the front of the procession, walking behind Dr. Ananda, a very sweet man who died of a massive heart attack two years after this photo was taken; walking side-by-side, Seung Sahn Soen Sa and Maezumi Roshi; Kimura Roshi, an unassuming Zen master if there ever were one, brought up the rear. See Hoy was practicing with Kimura Roshi, Dr. Thien-an and Sungsan Sonsa, how amazing!