How They Understood Each Other
A Traveler’s Shelter
Once, a traveler sought temporary shelter in a Buddhist monastery in Japan. In ancient times, it was customary for visiting travelers to make comments about the Buddha, to which any monk present would respond. An argument would then ensue; if the traveler lost the debate, he would not be granted shelter. However, this rarely happened.
The Argument
On a particularly rainy night, a tired traveler knocked on the door of a monastery. A one-eyed monk opened the door. The traveler, too exhausted to speak, raised one finger. The monk replied by showing two fingers. The traveler then raised three fingers, to which the monk responded by showing his fist.
The traveler eventually left the monastery and sought refuge in an inn. The innkeeper, curious about his experience, asked, “Did you not fare well in the argument?” The traveler explained, “I indicated with one finger that the Buddha was the only refuge. The monk showed two fingers to convey that both the Buddha and his teachings were important. When I displayed three fingers, it meant that the Buddha, his teachings, and his followers were all equally significant. The monk’s gesture of his fist implied that all three were, in fact, one. I realized then that I was defeated, so I left.”
A Twist of Perception
The following morning, the traveler resumed his journey, while the innkeeper encountered the one-eyed monk. “How did you refuse shelter to a traveler on such a rainy night?” the innkeeper questioned.
With a hint of annoyance, the monk replied, “I should have thrashed him! He is fortunate to have escaped.” He then elaborated, “The traveler showed one finger to indicate that I had only one eye! I didn’t take offense and responded with two fingers to point out that at least he had two eyes. He then raised three fingers to imply that together we had only three eyes! That angered me, leading me to clench my fist, at which point the fellow fled.”
