Throughout Buddhist history, there have been
monks whose lives were not only a testament to deep meditative insight but also
vivid living teachings through their everyday actions. One such figure is Zen Master Gessen,
who was not only a skilled painter and a committed practitioner but, above all,
a silent bodhisattva working tirelessly to benefit others.
A “Greedy
Artist” or a Bodhisattva in Disguise?
Zen Master Gessen was well-known for charging high
prices—always in advance—before painting a single stroke. People of his time, unable to understand his
ways, criticized him harshly, labeling him “money-hungry” and accusing him of
being blinded by material gain. But the deeper story behind his actions
revealed a profound compassion and extraordinary patience.
One day, a courtesan summoned him to paint a portrait. Her only condition was that he must paint in
her presence while she entertained a client.
Gessen agreed. He painted the
portrait in his exquisite style and demanded the highest fee of the time. The courtesan mockingly paid him, then turned
to her guest and said:
“This artist is obsessed with money. His paintings are beautiful, but his soul is
filthy. Greed has stained his heart. Art born from such a defiled spirit is
unworthy of display. It belongs only on
the back of my underwear.”
Then, in an act of sheer humiliation, she removed her
garment and challenged Gessen to paint another piece—on the back of her
underclothes.
Calmly, Gessen asked, “How much will you pay me?”
She replied, “As much as you want.”
He named a hefty sum, painted exactly as requested,
and left—unperturbed.
Only later did people discover the truth behind his
so-called greed:
1. Famine
frequently plagued his hometown,
and the wealthy often turned a blind eye to the suffering of the poor. Secretly,
Gessen had built a food storage facility to provide relief during those times
of dire need.
2. The road
from his village to the imperial temple was treacherous, causing hardship for countless travelers. Gessen wished to repair and rebuild it for
the public good.
3. His late
teacher passed away without fulfilling a lifelong dream—to build a temple.
Gessen resolved to complete this noble wish on his behalf.
After all three goals were accomplished, Gessen abandoned painting
altogether, leaving behind his brushes and tools. He retired to the mountains, never to paint
again.
The Power
of Patience and the Heart of a Bodhisattva
To be publicly humiliated by a courtesan—especially in
front of a stranger—would be unbearable even for an ordinary artist, let alone
a monk. Yet Gessen remained composed,
responding with neither anger nor ego. His sole focus was on fulfilling his
noble intentions for the benefit of others.
One could say he had attained a liberated mind amid the tangled net of
worldly entanglements.
Gessen’s response wasn’t weakness—it was strength born
from realization. He had transcended ego
and personal pride. He had no need to
defend his reputation because his goal was never to glorify himself but to
serve. His patience wasn't passive
endurance; it was an active, courageous letting go.
A Mirror
for Modern-Day Practitioners
In today’s world, many of us are quick to take
offense, easily wounded by criticism, attached to pride and praise. But from Gessen’s example, we learn:
·
True
practice isn't escaping from life but remaining untouched by its mud while
living within it.
·
Compassion
doesn’t always wear a soft smile—it can come as silent endurance, purposeful
action, and hidden sacrifice.
·
Real
patience is not just tolerance, but the strength to transcend ego in service of
higher vows.
In the form of a “greedy painter,” Gessen manifested
as a bodhisattva sowing seeds of compassion in the harsh soil of worldly
misunderstanding. His path needs no fanfare—only the quiet awakening of those
who see beyond appearances.
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