Excerpt from “Zen Koans” by the Venerable Gyomay Kubose:
One day Unmon said to his disciples, “If you don’t see a man for three days, do not think he is the same man. How about you?”
No one spoke, so he said, “One Thousand.”
Commentary: Here Unmon speaks the very essence of Buddhism. All things are in constant change; nothing is permanent. Life is constant becoming. All people, whether they think so or not, are ever-changing. Every day is a new day. Even fish do not swim in the same place for a day. Certainly three days can make a different person!
Unmon answered by himself “One thousand.” Of course, it is not the number 1,000. Rather, it means multiplicity, continuous changes without number. It means meet each day with a fresh attitude. Do not cling to yesterday, and do not judge by yesterday. Live each day’s life fully.
