80.
THE REAL MIRACLE
When Bankei was preaching at Ryumon temple, a Shinshu priest, who believed in salvation through the
repetition of the name of the Buddha of Love, was jealous of his large audience and wanted to debate with him.
Bankei was in the midst of a talk when the priest appeared, but the fellow made such a disturbance that Bankei stopped
his discourse and asked about the noise.
"The founder of our sect," boasted the priest, "had such miraculous powers that he held a brush in his hand on one
bank of the river, his attendant held up a paper on the other bank, and the teacher wrote the holy name of Amida through
the air. Can you do such a wonderful thing?"
Bankei replied lightly: "Perhaps your fox can perform that trick, but that is not the manner of Zen. My miracle is that
when I feel hungry I eat, and when I feel thirsty I drink."