The Enlightenment of Fish
by Kakita Kaori
At the dinner table, Doji Gen smiled at the young Fox. He looked so earnestly concerned...dragged between his assigned duty to be a bushi of his clan, and the calling of his heart to become a healer. It reminded her of a story that her nurse, Ima, told her long ago. She began to speak.
"Back in the days when Shinsei walked the Empire, one of his most ardent followers took it upon himself to teach the Tao to the animals, that they might become enlightened. He traveled to the forests, to the mountains, and to the rivers to preach to them. And the animals listened.
One day, Shinsei came to visit him.
“How well have the animals learned?” the Little Teacher asked.
The follower shook his head. “It varies, Teacher. The bird and the monkey are close to enlightenment. The bird sings your praises in my ears, and the monkey shouts of you and brings offerings to the shrines. But the serpent and the fish are fools. The serpent merely mumbles into the dust, while the fish ignores me completely.”
Shinsei shook his head. “I assure you, the serpent and the fish are closer to enlightenment than anyone. If you judge a spirit by how well it fits your vision of enlightenment, you will never know how close it is to finding its own.”
At the dinner table, Doji Gen smiled at the young Fox. He looked so earnestly concerned...dragged between his assigned duty to be a bushi of his clan, and the calling of his heart to become a healer. It reminded her of a story that her nurse, Ima, told her long ago. She began to speak.
"Back in the days when Shinsei walked the Empire, one of his most ardent followers took it upon himself to teach the Tao to the animals, that they might become enlightened. He traveled to the forests, to the mountains, and to the rivers to preach to them. And the animals listened.
One day, Shinsei came to visit him.
“How well have the animals learned?” the Little Teacher asked.
The follower shook his head. “It varies, Teacher. The bird and the monkey are close to enlightenment. The bird sings your praises in my ears, and the monkey shouts of you and brings offerings to the shrines. But the serpent and the fish are fools. The serpent merely mumbles into the dust, while the fish ignores me completely.”
Shinsei shook his head. “I assure you, the serpent and the fish are closer to enlightenment than anyone. If you judge a spirit by how well it fits your vision of enlightenment, you will never know how close it is to finding its own.”