When Bankei held his seclusion-weeks of meditation, pupils from many parts of Japan came to attend. During one of these gatherings a pupil was caught stealing. The matter was reported to Bankei with the request that the culprit be expelled. Bankei ignored the case.
Later the pupil was caught in a similar act, and again Bankei disregarded the matter. This angered the other pupils, who drew up a petition asking for the dismissal of the thief, stating that otherwise they would leave in a body.
When Bankei had read the petition he called everyone before him. "You are wise brothers," he told them. "You know what is right and what is not right. You may go somewhere else to study if you wish, but this poor brother does not even know right from wrong. Who will teach him if I do not? I am going to keep him here even if all the rest of you leave."
Sometimes it is easier to play ignorant to the weakness of a particular person, for e.g. teachers who prefer to teach students who are good in studies than those students who poor in their studies. I have seen students who are in Form 1 and can only write their own name and not more than that.
So these students are being left alone doing their own things. When any of the disciplinary issues arise, it would be entirely the students' faults and not because of the students, their parents, teachers and society at large.
It takes courage and patience to teach them and to guide them.
I wish I have the patience to guide and to teach them but I know my strength is limited. It would be nice to see all the children in the world can read, write and be able to think as it would clearly lessen the needs for war.
Namoamitofu......
