Jakusui: Since becoming the head priest of SAIKOUZENJI, have you, Priest Danjo had less contact with Zen Master Mori?

Priest Danjo: No. Actually, I reunited with Zen Master Mori about a week after arriving at SAIKOUZENJI. When I first came to SAIKOUZENJI, I didn't think it would be a temple struggling with water—though it's up on a mountain, there's a decent-sized river right in front.

But then, about four or five days after I arrived, the water in the kitchen stopped completely. “That's strange,” I thought, “maybe something's clogged?” I called a parishioner, and they said, “The well is down the slope. Go take a look.”

I went to the spot they mentioned and found it completely dry. There was barely enough water left to fill half a drum can. A temple that's been around for over 500 years, and now I've ended up at a temple with no water!

So, I spent the night thinking about it.

The next day, I called Zen Master Mori and said, “I have something I'd like to talk to you about.”

Then, I went to Zen Master Mori's temple to discuss my worries.

I went to Zen Master Mori's room, bowed deeply, and said, “I'm sorry, Zen Master Mori. I entered SAIKOUZENJI, but there's absolutely no water. This is my first temple without water! Honestly, I can't manage a temple without water. Zen Master Mori, since I haven't had any contact with the parishioners yet, could I please give up being the head priest and return home? I beg you!”

I thought the teacher would say something like, “Oh, so the temple you entered has no water? That must be inconvenient for daily life, and you can't even serve tea to visitors. That's quite a hardship.”

But the moment he heard my story, Master burst out laughing. “You've gone to a great place, haven't you!” he said. I asked, “Master, what do you mean by that?”

“You trained at the temple in Kyoto, didn't you? You know better than anyone that when you're in trouble, you should pray to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. This is the perfect chance to see if you can connect with them. There's nothing better than that. If you could live comfortably at SAIKOUZENJI, you'd never get this kind of experience.”

“But Master, even if you say that, what if the water never comes back? I can manage now because I'm young, but what if it stays dry forever?” I asked.

Then he said, “I see. Ken, there's a river near the temple, isn't there?”

“Yes, there is.”

At first, I thought he was checking the feng shui.

“Is there a bridge over it?”

“Yes, there is.”

“How many meters?”

“About five meters, it's quite high.”

“That's just right, isn't it?”

“Master, what does that bridge mean?”

“If you think you're not properly connected to the Tathagata Bodhisattva, then why not jump off the bridge and let the current carry you away!”

“Eh! So you're telling me to die?!” I asked back in shock.

“That's right. You're alone anyway, so if you die, no one will grieve for you, right?”

At that moment, My Master said it with a laugh. As the listener, I was smiling on the outside, but inside I was already furious. “This Master is terrible! Your own disciple joined a temple with no water, and instead of words of comfort, you get the complete opposite. This is truly awful!”

Normally, when a disciple comes, you'd offer tea and chat for an hour or so. But Zen Master Mori, after hearing my story, asked, “Ken, is that all you wanted to say?” “Oh, was that what you wanted to talk about? Well, okay then, that's enough. Go home.”

On the way back, I was furious in the car. I must have yelled “Waaah!” and “Aaah!” over and over. I drove thinking, “I'm going back to SAIKOUZENJI! I'm never going back to Zen Master Mori's temple!”

Back at SAIKOUZENJI, I thought, “How can I connect with the Tathagata Bodhisattva?”　It was a life-or-death wish. I knew, “I absolutely must connect with the Tathagata Bodhisattva.” It also connected with my memories of being a novice monk for about a year after I took ordination and lived with Zen Master Mori.

That means words like “praise” and “gratitude” remain, directed toward all life.

Jakusui: Did you ultimately connect with the Tathagata Bodhisattva?

Priest Danjo: Yes, I truly did connect. It took five years to achieve that connection.

After the water began flowing, I filled a plastic bottle and went to report to Zen Master Mori. He drank the water, smiled broadly, and said, “I see. That's wonderful. It's good you connected with your beloved Kannon Bodhisattva.”

When he added, “I'm praying you'll manage well at your new temple. Just do your best,” I realized Zen Master Mori had foreseen the events that would unfold for me and spoken those stern words with that foresight. Overcome with gratitude, I couldn't help but tear up.