Notes

This chapter starts a year later when Taro wants to start practicing Zen meditation in the temple. Taro explains that the reason he hadn't left Kofuchu was because a friends of Togan, who was a priest, had agreed to teach him how to read and write. He wanted to know how to do this because most samurai knew how to and he too wanted to possibly become one of them. He also says that most samurai practice Zen. "There is one road that is particualarily well-trodden by those who wear silk, it is Zen" (Page 49). This quote means that most of the people who wear silk, meaning they are very wealthy and or a samurai, choose to practice Zen. This is probably most likley why Taro wanted to practice Zen. Also, he says that he does not want to do this to enlighten himself, but because he could ecounter very important people on his journey. He went to En-ko temple where Zazen was held early in the morning. He was granted permission and put n his blue linen kimono and straw sandels. When the monk saw that Taro was wearing a kimono made of linen, he showed him to a different Zazen hall, this time on the right side of the main building. Taro was not happy when he realized that the people beside him were at the same class leval as him. When you are practicing Zazen you sit much like the statue of Buddha, but there is a monk walking around you. The monk holds a stick and would hit the person with it to keep their thoughts from wandering. Taro went to this twice a week and had to leave early, before he could get breakfast. Taro knew that he wasn't supposed to look up but he knew the monks feet very well and had counted the hairs on his toes and one day they were all shaved away. He sddenly looked up and almost cried aloud. The monk look over at him and struck him with the stick, called a kyosaku, with as much force as he could. As he was leaving he was stopped by two samurai who claimed that he stole one of their purses'. They claim that Taro was the one who stole his purse and but then they change their tactics. Then, Taro ran to Lord Akiyama's mansion. He met with his master's father and explained why he was there. His master's father told him he would go to Iida Castle where Lord Akiyama was and give him a note from his father. Taro was then shooded away and left silently.