A Martyr, for the Sake of Reminder

In a Chan monastery, it was once tradition for students to take a solemn vow:Even if their master were to kill them one day, they would never abandon the path of Chan.

To affirm this vow, it was customary to cut one’s finger and seal the promise with a drop of blood.But over time, this vow became little more than an empty formality.

And so it happened that a student, serving under Master Ekido, died by his hand — and was later regarded as a martyr.

The Story:

Master Ekido had become a strict and uncompromising teacher.His students respected him — but many feared him as well.

One day, a student had the task of striking the gong to mark the hour of the day.But his gaze drifted from his duty to a girl who happened to pass by the temple gate.

Ekido stood directly behind him.Without a word, he struck the student with a staff.

The blow came so unexpectedly that, still lost in thought, the student was overwhelmed by the shock —and in that very moment, he died.

When the boy’s father heard of the incident, he rushed to the temple.“Where is Ekido?” he asked the students.

They pointed in his direction.The father saw the master standing there — unchanged — calmly continuing his teaching,as if his son were still among the living.

The father stepped forward, bowed, and said:“Thank you, Ekido, for your unwavering discipline. I know this was not your fault.”

And so it is said that in the years that followed, Master Ekido brought forth more than ten enlightened disciples —a number seldom achieved by any teacher.