101 Zen Stories: Story # 25 : Three Days More — Persisting Toward Enlightenment
Suiwo, the disciple of Hakuin, was a good teacher. During one summer seclusion period, a pupil came to him from a southern island of Japan.
Suiwo gave him the problem: “Hear the sound of one hand.”
The pupil remained three years but could not pass the test. One night he came in tears to Suiwo. “I must return south in shame and embarrassment,” he said, “for I cannot solve my problem.”
“Wait one week more and meditate constantly,” advised Suiwo. Still no enlightenment came to the pupil. “Try for another week,” said Suiwo. The pupil obeyed, but in vain.
“Still another week.” Yet this was of no avail. In despair the student begged to be released, but Suiwo requested another meditation of five days. They were without result. Then he said: “Meditate for three days longer, then if you fail to attain enlightenment, you had better kill yourself.”
On the second day the pupil was enlightened.
Trusting the Timing on the Path to Enlightenment
This old Zen tale contains hidden wisdom relevant today about the winding path to enlightenment. The student despairs after years without progress on the koan, unable to hear the sound of one hand. He wishes to quit, but Suiwo insists he continue meditating. Right when the pupil reaches utter hopelessness, he finally has a breakthrough.
The hidden message is that we cannot force the timing of insight. Realizations often arise just when we are about to give up. Their appearance is a mystery we cannot control. Suiwo recognizes his pupil must exhaust himself completely to create readiness for awakening.
For modern seekers, this reminds us that enlightenment cannot be rushed. We want to dictate the schedule for spiritual progress. But like Suiwo’s student, we may require more persistence than seems reasonable before illumination suddenly dawns.
We can take heart that effort is never wasted, even if fruitless for years. Progress occurs underneath that eventually surfaces when conditions are ripe. Suiwo reassures that if we stick with practices amid doubt, we realign to realize truth in time. Even dark nights of the soul can precede the dawn.
With patience and trust, we must listen for the sound of one hand as long as it takes for ears to hear and wisdom to ripen.
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