If You Love, Love Openly - A Zen Story in Verse

If You Love, Love Openly

Twenty monks and Eshun, the only nun,
Practiced meditation with a master of Zen.
She looked very pretty
Though her head was shaved

And her dress very plain.
Many monks loved her secretly,
Everyone’s heart was slain.
A certain monk could resist no more

A love letter to her he wrote
For a rendezvous very remote.
He got no reply and wondered why.
Next day after the master’s sermon

Eshun stood up and said to him:
“If you love me
As much as you tell me,
I’ll see you in a place remote,
But first, come and embrace me now.”


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Rendered from the following Zen story:

If You Love, Love Openly

Twenty monks and one nun, who was named Eshun, were practicing meditation with a certain Zen master.

Eshun was very pretty even though her haid was shaved and her dress plain. Several monks secretly fell in love with her. One of them wrote her a love letter, insisting upon a private meeting.

Eshun did not reply. The following day the master gave a lecture to the group, and when it was over, Eshun arose. Addressing the one who had written to her, she said: "If you really love me so much, come and embrace me now."

http://www.maths.utas.edu.au/People/Allison/zen/zen005.html