Is That So?

Eckhart Tolle describes insight into finding out "who you truly are" in a passage in his book The New Earth through the story of Zen Master Hakuin who lived in a town in Japan.  It seems that the teen age daughter of the Zen's master's next door neighbor became pregnant.  She indicated that the much revered Zen master was, in fact, the father.

In a rage, the girl's parents confronted the Zen master and furiously told him of their daughter's confession.  His reply was a simple: "Is that so?"

There was a scandal.  The Zen master was disgraced and fell from favor in the community.  He lost his livelihood.  When the baby was born, the parents brought him to the Zen master and demanded that he should raise the child because, after all, he was the father.  The Zen master's response: "Is that so?"

The Zen master lovingly raised the child.

A year later, the baby's mother confessed that the baby's father wasn't the Zen master at all, but a boy who worked at the town's butcher shop.  The parents remorsefully went to the Zen master to apologize.  

"We wish to take the baby back: we know you are not the father."

"Is that so?"

The Zen master handed the baby over to them.

The point of the story according to Tolle is that "Only if you resist what happens are you at the mercy of what happens, and the world will determine your happiness and unhappiness."

Is there something to do here with turning the other cheek, or with handing over cloaks, or with denying yourself?

I shared the story with a couple folks in the hall and was roundly chastised for thinking about buying into such foolishness.  You gotta fight the power that be! seemed to be the sentiment in that moment.

We do fight and we do react and we do defend, but what, as a leader, happens when your efforts turn from fighting and controlling and proving to being present?  To doing the little things of insignificance?  To occasionally responding to attacks and anger with the simple words: "Is that so?"

What might happen, according to ancient philosopher, Tao Te Ching is that "all things will come to you."

But then again: what might happen, according to Jesus, is that you might end up on a cross.