Apr 22, 2008 02:21
One day, a student of Shunryu Suzuki-Roshi confronted him at Sokoji, in his office, and said, "if you believe in freedom why do you keep your bird locked up in a cage?" Suzuki Roshi went over and opened the door of the cage and the bird flew out of the cage and out of the window. It is said that then Shunryu Suzuki turned to the student and said "That bird is free - you owe me a bird."