Yuten, by Tyson Matthews

Fudô Myoo Threatening a Novice, by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Japan) 1885

Yuten

Oh, great and powerful Immovable One. Please come to me here and guide me toward wisdom. 

Since I’ve arrived here at Zojoji, I’ve suffered the greatest of humiliations. Though the other acolytes have not said a word, I’m certain that even the wooden walls of the temple laugh at me. 

For I study day in and day out, and yet I struggle to recite a single sutra; to recount any of the day's teachings. I excel only in sweeping floors and cooking miso. And oh, illustrious Wisdom King, how am I to reach enlightenment like this?

It seems that I won’t travel, but a single step on the journey, no matter how hard I try. Even the fine teachers of Zojoji think me hopeless! 

Oh, great Immovable Wisdom King. Please grant me but a hundredth of your all-powerful knowledge, so that I have not renounced the world in vain.    

*  

Wisdom! Wisdom King! Oh, great Immovable One, who stands atop of man, and who, atop of me, leaned, bearing down your insurmountable sword of knowledge. Plunging it down my throat until I choked and gagged, and finally awoke. 

How am I now to go on, oh great Immovable One? I could, only a few nights ago, remember but a single sutra, and now I know as Buddha himself once did. 

Oh, Illustrious Wisdom King! As I kneeled, hands clasped before your likeness, I had the palest hopes of your coming, but under the moon you came. Flanked by your attendants Kongara and Seitaka, your likeness was no longer a mere imitation. 

And I awoke, spitting up pales of blackened mud. Blood mixed with parting ignorance. 

No longer do I studly so much as I myself am studied. But oh, Immovable One! Oh, powerful Wisdom King! I can not stand it. This can’t be it, is it? Is this enlightenment? If it is, then please let this be the last time I kneel, hands clasped before your likeness. 

Oh, great and powerful Wisdom King. Please come to me again, but this time I have another request. Bring with you your diamond rope. ​

Tyson Matthews

Tyson Matthews is a 22-year-old writer from Prince Edward Island, Canada. A writer of primarily short fiction and poetry.