The Empty Boat

Talks given 11 July 1974 am in Buddha Hall

WHAT IS THIS THREE IN THE MORNING?
IT IS ABOUT A MONKEY TRAINER
WHO WENT TO HIS MONKEYS AND TOLD THEM:
”AS REGARDS YOUR CHESTNUTS,
YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THREE MEASURES IN THE MORNING, AND FOUR IN THE AFTERNOON.”
ON HEARING THIS ALL THE MONKEYS BECAME ANGRY.
SO THE KEEPER SAID:
”ALL RIGHT THEN,
I WILL CHANGE IT
TO FOUR MEASURES IN THE MORNING,
AND THREE IN THE AFTERNOON.”

THE ANIMALS WERE SATISFIED WITH THIS ARRANGEMENT. THE TWO ARRANGEMENTS WERE THE SAME –
THE NUMBER OF CHESTNUTS DID NOT CHANGE,
BUT IN ONE CASE THE MONKEYS WERE DISPLEASED,

AND IN THE OTHER CASE THEY WERE SATISFIED. THE KEEPER WAS WILLING
TO CHANGE HIS PERSONAL ARRANGEMENT
IN ORDER TO MEET OBJECTIVE CONDITIONS.

HE LOST NOTHING BY IT.
THE TRULY WISE MAN,
CONSIDERING BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION WITHOUT PARTIALITY,
SEES THEM BOTH IN THE LIGHT OF TAO.
THIS IS CALLED FOLLOWING TWO COURSES AT ONCE.