Ryonen (zen lady)
The Buddhist nun known as Ryonen was born in 1797. She was a grandaughter of the famous Japanese warrior Shingen. Her poetical genius and alluring beauty were such that at seventeen she was serving the empress as one of the ladies of the court. Even at such a youthful age fame awaited her.
The beloved empress died suddenly and Ryonen’s hopeful dreams vanished. She became acutely aware of the impermanency of life in this world. It was then that she desired to study Zen.
Her relatives disagreed, however, and practically forced her into marriage. With a promise that she might become a nun after she had borne three children, Ryonen assented. Before she was twenty-five she had accomplished this condition. Then her husband and relatives could no longer dissuade her from her desire. She shaved her head, took the name of Ryonen, which means to realize clearly, and started on her pilgrimage.
She came to the city of Edo and asked Tetsugya to accept her as a disciple. At one glance the master rejected her because she was too beautiful.
Ryonen went to another master, Hakuo. Hakuo refused her for the same reason, saying that her beauty would only make trouble.
Ryonen obtained a hot iron and placed it against her face. In a few moments her beauty had vanished forever.
Hakuo then accepted her as a disciple.
Commemorating this occasion, Ryonen wrote a poem on the back of a little mirror:
Now as a homeless mendicant I burn my face to enter a Zen temple.
When Ryonen was about to pass from this world, she wrote another poem:
I have said enough about moonlight,
Ask no more.
Only listen to the voice of pines and cedars when no wind stirs.
I understand the beauty is skin deep part, true beauty comes from within, etc. If this were a true story (I’m not sure) what I think is ridiculous is that she’d have to disfigure herself to follow her dream…
mysterycoach - April 19, 2012 at 4:52 am |
I agree, Mysterycoach – it is too wrong that the Zen masters (male) assumed so much (that her beauty would be trouble) – rather than looking into her eyes and knowing she had no purpose of trouble, only continued enlightenment. The flaw is not in the beauty but the perception of what beauty means full stop.
WordsFallFromMyEyes - June 30, 2012 at 2:07 am |
Hello Honey! Well said!
MysteryCoach - June 30, 2012 at 3:39 am
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Beautiful Faces 2 « Education Films - April 19, 2012 at 7:50 am |
Love that dear little kitten sniffing the daffofil! I am blessed with two like that! They teach us much about how to properly honor what we have, do they not? I also appreciated the information about Ryonen. I have heard about her burning her face in order to be accepted as a Zen disciple. I am sure thousands of vain young Chinese maidens were told of this!
granbee - April 19, 2012 at 3:27 pm |
And smiled about the Toilet Paper.. One should live with my Hubby, Its always disappearing and its never replenished.
Sue Dreamwalker - April 20, 2012 at 10:14 am |
the top of my comment should have Read.” Love this Story Art ” and smiled about~~~ etc …
Sue Dreamwalker - April 20, 2012 at 10:15 am |
Thank you Art. xx
willowdot21 - April 20, 2012 at 2:43 pm |
I like bunnies.
Aaron - April 23, 2012 at 1:14 am |
Reblogged this on я℮ⅾωїłḓґøṧℯ﹩.
_redwildroses - May 18, 2012 at 10:40 pm |
I liked this story – is it true???!! – yet, regrettable. Her children, and that lineage of the family … wow. I would be proud.
WordsFallFromMyEyes - June 30, 2012 at 2:08 am |