A Zen Master Is Like a Tiger Mother
Q&A with Zen Master Dae Bong on Zen Master Seung Sahn
Editor’s note: The Asian editorial team sent a set of questions via email to those who had direct experience with Zen Master Seung Sahn. Here are wonderful answers from Zen Master Dae Bong.
Primary Point: How did Zen Master Seung Sahn live as a human being, a teacher, and a Zen master?
Zen Master Dae Bong: I think he gave his life 100 percent to dharma and to his students.
Today, exactly 38 years ago, I took sunim precepts from Zen Master Seung Sahn. After first meeting him, I trusted him. I believed he truly attained great enlightenment, and that he could teach me the Way. And I knew I would have to learn to believe in myself. Also I seemed to realize at the same time that he was a human being, and not perfect.
To me, at least, his speech and actions were one. He said, “Zen masters also make mistakes. How soon make correct—very important.” Also he said, “Ten Zen masters will have ten different opinions and they all think they are correct.” I felt he was always honest with me; his speech and actions matched.
I did not always have an easy time with him. He encouraged me into many difficult situations, but I knew each time that I was choosing to try it. And sometimes he yelled at me quite strongly, not holding back at all.
I felt that I didn’t always have to listen to him, and also that he didn’t always know what was best for me, but I would always learn from our relationship and our interactions. I trusted that he was completely sincere and caring with me. Ultimately, however, it was up to me to grow and become clear and find my way. He wasn’t Santa Claus granting wishes.
PP: What is the most memorable teaching that you received from him?
ZMDB: I cannot say just one.
First teaching: The first time I attended a talk by Zen Master Seung Sahn, he was asked “What is crazy? What is not crazy?” His answer was “If you are very attached to something, you are very crazy. If you are a little attached to something, you are a little crazy. If you are not attached to anything that is not crazy.” I thought, “That is better than my ten years studying and working in psychology.”
And Zen Master Seung Sahn continued, “So, in this world, everyone is crazy, because everyone is attached to I-my-me. But this ‘I’ doesn’t exist; it is only made by our thinking. If you want to not attach to your thinking I, then you must practice Zen.”
Then I thought, “This is my teacher.”
Second teaching: First kong-an interview, primary point basic teaching: “Your before-thinking substance, my before-thinking substance, somebody’s before-thinking substance, also this stick’s substance, the substance of the sun, moon, and stars, is the same substance.” When I heard that, I thought, “I’ve been waiting my whole life to hear that.” I trusted he could teach me how to attain that and how to really help others.
Third teaching: At the end of my third kong-an interview I asked Zen Master Seung Sahn, “When will I see you again?” He immediately hit me strongly on the leg with his Zen stick, looked me in the eyes closely and said, “When you keep don’t-know mind, you and I are always together.”
He also gave me great advice in dealing with many specific issues in my personal life, with my parents and other intimate relations, and with some serious parts of my karma. He was, for me, a living example of great vow, great effort, and great wisdom. He was an example of what is possible. I felt he taught me true love and compassion by giving me love and compassion.
I think he helped many people in many different ways and to different degrees. It depended on what they wanted, needed, what was most important to them, and how they wanted to live. He pushed people, but he also adjusted, when you made your own clear decisions.
He said a Zen master is like a tiger mother. A tiger mother pushes its cubs over a cliff, and those that climb back up, she takes care of. He certainly pushed me over a number of cliffs, with my willingness, and he certainly was right there whenever I climbed back up.
Meeting and practicing and studying with him was crucial for me. He once said to me, “If you hadn’t met me, you would already be dead.” I believe that was true. Attaining the Buddhadharma is the only thing I ever really wanted to do in my life, even if I didn’t consciously know it.
PP: What was your most unforgettable day or moment with him?
ZMDB: I can’t say what was my most unforgettable day or moment with Dae Seon Sa Nim because there are many, many ones.