The last poem of Hoshin.

Today let's reading in some tales 

The last poem of Hoshin.

The Zen master Hoshin lived in China for many years.

Then he went back in the north-eastern Japan where he began to teach his disciples. 

When he was now very old, told the students a story he had heard in China. 

Here's the story:Twenty-five December of a given year Tokufu that was very old, said to his disciples: 

"For next year I will no longer alive, you should treat well this year. "

The students thought he was joking, but given who was a teacher with all my heart, in the remaining days than the end of the year all of them, in turn, invited him to a great lunch.

On the eve of the new year, Tokufu concluded: "You been good to me. I will leave tomorrow afternoon when it has stopped snowing. "

The disciples laughed, thinking that old age he did unreason, for an evening was clear and without snow.

But at midnight it began to snow, and the next day no one could find the master.

 They all went in the meditation hall. The master had died there.

Hoshin, who had told this story, told disciples: "It is not necessary for a Zen master foreshadows his own death, but if you really wish, you can do it. "

 "You can do it," asked someone.

"Yes," answered Hoshin. "In seven days I'll show you  I can do. "

None of the disciples believed him, and when Hoshin met again, most of them had even forgotten that speech.

"Seven days ago," the teacher began, "I saidI was about to leave. E 'guide to writing a poem farewell, but I am neither poet nor calligrapher. 

That one of you write my last words. "The disciples thought he was joking, but one of them prepared to write.

"

Are you ready?" Hoshin asked.

"Yes, sir," replied the young man.

Then Hoshin dictated:

I came by the splendor

And back to glory.

What is this?

The poem lacked a line across the four traditional, and the disciple said, "Master, we lack a towards. "

With the roar of a lion victorious, Hoshin shouted "Kaa!" and died.