The Robe That Never Wears Out

Text

When Ānanda was about to transmit the Dharma, Śāṇavāsa asked him: 'What did the World-Honored One transmit to Mahākāśyapa besides the robe and bowl?' Ānanda descended from his seat, stood upright, and folded his hands. Śāṇavāsa said: 'I understand.' Ānanda said: 'What have you understood?' Śāṇavāsa said: 'It is just this—nothing hidden, nothing added.' Keizan's verse: The hemp robe worn since birth / never tears and never frays. / What is this robe? / Search the ten directions—nothing lacks it.

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Speaker
  Shanakavasa

Lineage: Indian Patriarchs

By Shanakavasa

• Born Already Robedsaying

From Denkoroku

• The Fragrance Without a Flower
• The Mind That Is Like Space
• The Auspicious Cloud
• The Wine Jar and the Dharma
• The Star That Does Not Move
• Entering the Gate as a Householder
• The Vow of Pārśva
• The Debate That Ended Without Debate
• Meeting Nāgārjuna
• In Praise of the Perfection of Wisdom

Sources

• contentZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation

  Zen project editorial

  Denkoroku, Case 4

  Denkoroku: The Robe That Never Wears Out