Sri Sri Bankei Muffinheart

Bankei Muffinheart

Well, last you heard, Muffin had decided to live outside.  That lasted three days.  I was on a silent retreat in Portugal and my partner David was sitting for the squirrels at home.  Muffin was out and about in the neighborhood.  

On the third evening of my absence, David saw Muffin wandering in the street looking somewhat beleaguered. Upon trying to approach Muffin, he ran across the street over to the catladys' house.  Oh no.  A few hours later at suppertime, David went out the front door to change the water and who should be waiting for him but Muffin!  He looked tired and dehydrated.  Upon seeing David, Muffin jumped on him and obviously wanted to go back inside the house.  Muffin crawled into his own nest in his cage and took a long rest. That was the end of Muffin's outside adventures.  He is now a bonified inside resident.

Now if you know anything at all about Mr.Nut, you know he is considered the "Buddha of Gathright Cove".  When Muffin returned home, Mr.Nut took notice of this event and went into contemplation.  Just recently Mr.Nut let it be known that Muffin has also had a very important past life as a spiritual dignitary. Delving into the squirrelashic records, it was discovered the Muffin is no other than the famous Zen master Bankei.  
                                             

Teachings of Bankei


Anyways, after Mr.Nut goes outside first thing in the morning, Rosie is fed, and the outdoor squirrels and birds are provided for, Muffin and I read some of his original teachings as translated by Peter Haskel.  Here is a small taste of the squirreluminous nature of Bankei:

Where do you go?

A layman asked: "If you become a buddha,

                                         where do you go?"

The Master replied: "If you become a buddha, there's no place at all to go.  You fill the vast universe to its very limits.  It's when you become any other sort of being that there are different places to go."      

                                                                          (zenshu, p. 134)