Story ‣ Drunkard Disciple

A Zen master had hundreds of disciples 🗝

They all prayed at the right time, except one, who was always drunk. 🗝

The master was growing old. 🗝

Some of the more virtuous pupils began to wonder who would be the new leader of the group, the one who would receive the important secrets of the Tradition.🗝

On the eve of his death, however, the master called the drunkard disciple and revealed the hidden secrets to him.🗝

A veritable revolt broke out among the others.🗝

“How shameful!” they cried in the streets,🗝

“We have sacrificed ourselves for the wrong master, one who can’t see our qualities.” 🗝

Hearing the commotion outside, the dying master remarked, 🗝

“I had to pass on these secrets to a man that I knew well.🗝

All my pupils are very virtuously and showed only their qualities.🗝

That is dangerous, for virtue often serves to hide vanity, pride and intolerance.🗝

That is why I chose the only disciple whom I know really well since I can see his defect: drunkenness.”