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The
Basket of Discourse
The Basket of Discourse is a series of conversations
between "Student" and "Teacher." Jojiist
tradition holds that these are conversations between Jojii and
Ananda, chief among students. Their similarity in form and message
to many of the stories of the Basket of Fable would seem to
lend credence to this interpretation, but many scholars believe
the discourses to have been written well after Jojii's death.
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The
Unready Warrior
The
Student and his Teacher stumbled upon a hunter who had
killed a board of Ispar, though the hunter carried plenty
of food.
The
Student declared:
Be careful, warrior, for that
sword has two edges!
The
warrior laughed, saying:
Not if it is a scimitar!
The
Student asked the Teacher:
Are some
not able to fathom the truths of Enlightenment?
The
Teacher replied:
All are able. Some are not ready.
Some are no more than yon boar, but at least it is
honest in its intentions. You know where it stands.
It fights when it is in danger. It sleeps when it
is tired. It eats when it is hungry. It is not mysterious.
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The
Temptations of Desire
The
Student asked:
How am I to avoid the temptations
of Desire?
The
Teacher
replied:
Do all for your brothers and
sisters. This is compassion. Seek not the pleasures
of the city and the country. This is detachment. Train
always to better your skills against the demonic forces.
This is discipline. Gather not the deeds and items
that would bring you status, but only those that would
make you a better warrior. Remember, you must always
improve. This is humility.
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The
Honorable Blade
The
Student declared:
Certainly, we must be careful.
Does not the thief attack any whose loot might benefit
him? Is not the assassin paid to kill, in the name
of another's Desire? What is to be the target of my
blade?
The
Teacher
thought a moment, and then replied:
Of the monsters, you may kill
all. They are all demons. They are desire made manifest.
Of the animals, you may kill any that attack you.You
should give them wide berth. You may not kill any
for food, but may eat of their flesh if another, out
of compassion, serves it to you.
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