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The Daily Dharma – September 1, 2021

Oil Painting Fire Project by Dana Velan

Eshun’s Departure

When Eshun, the Zen nun, was past sixty and about to leave this world, she aked some monks to pile up wood in the yard.

Seating herself firmly in the center of the funeral pyre, she had it set fire around the edges.

“O nun!” shouted one monk, “Is it hot in there?”

“Such a matter would concern only a stupid person like yourself,” answered Eshun.

The flames arose, and she passed away.”

from 101 Zen Stories
As printed in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones