The Way of Hospitality

The King of Zhao made a special trip to visit Chan Master Zhaozhou Congnen in Zhaozhou City. At the time, the Master was resting in bed. He remained lying down and said to his visitor, "Your Majesty, I'm old and frail now. Though you've come all this way to see me, I simply don't have the strength to get out of bed to receive you. Please don't take offense."

Far from taking offense, the King of Zhao came to respect Zhaozhou even more. The next day, the King dispatched a general to deliver gifts. The moment Zhaozhou heard of this, he got right out of bed and went outside to welcome the visitor. Afterward, his disciples were puzzled and asked, "When the King of Zhao came the other day, you didn't get out of bed. This time, when the King's subordinate came, why did you get up and go outside to welcome him?"

Chan Master Zhaozhou explained, "There's something you don't understand. My way of receiving guests has three levels — upper, middle, and lower. When a person of the highest order comes, I receive them right here in bed, with my original face. When a person of the middle order comes, I get out of bed and receive them in the guest hall with proper courtesy. When a person of the lowest order comes, I go out to the front gate and receive them with worldly formality."

There's a well-known saying — "Tea. Serve tea. Serve good tea. Sit. Please sit. Please take the seat of honor." — that some use to mock a temple guest master's snobbery. In truth, this isn't snobbery at all; it's simply ordinary human courtesy. In worldly affairs, distinctions naturally arise within what is fundamentally equal. Seen through the lens of the Zen mind, Chan Master Zhaozhou's way of receiving guests reveals an understanding that transcends the worldly view — and that is what sets him apart. In our own conduct and dealings with the world, do we follow conventional truth? Ultimate truth? Or a fusion of both? Let those with a seeking heart ponder this!