TLDR: A group of Buddhist practitioners at a retreat return from a Dhamma talk to find that their belongings have been stolen by burglar(s). The author reflects on a similar occurrence depicted in a Chán story, and realises that although her material possessions were taken away by the burglar, the stillness and peace of her mind need not go with them.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on For You Information titled “‘Guan Yin Bodhisattva’ Has Come To Steal Our Minds” and was further edited in consultation with the author.

I once read the following in a book: Chán (Zen)Master Ryōkan lived a very simple life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening, a burglar broke into the hut. While the burglar was in the process of stealing the impoverished monk’s few possessions, Master Ryōkan returned. In his haste to leave, the thief left behind a cushion. Master Ryōkan then grabbed the cushion and ran after the thief to give it to him.

The burglary prompted Master Ryōkan to compose the short haiku (a form of Japanese poetry) below: 

The thief left it behind: 

the moon 

at my window. 

What was it that “the thief left behind”, you might ask? 

It was the one great treasure that the impoverished monk possessed. In this haiku, the moon is a metaphor representing enlightened awareness: the one great treasure that the thief could not steal from Master Ryōkan. 

A Chán Buddhist Talk & a Burglary

At this point, I am reminded of an incident that happened many years ago when I was still a laywoman. I was attending a seven-day Chán Buddhist retreat. On one of the evenings, we had to leave the retreat centre to attend a public Chán Buddhist talk held by a visiting Chán Master from abroad. 

A chartered bus provided transport to and fro, so we were told to leave all our belongings behind in the centre, as it would be locked up. Can you guess what happened next?

We came back later that night, all feeling very “enlightened” after listening to the talk. To our utmost shock, lo and behold, the centre was broken into! Our belongings were scattered all over the floor. There was even a chopper on the floor which presumably was used to pry open the donation box at the centre!

Everything in my wallet — including my money, identity card, ATM card, and credit cards — was all gone! 

My favourite mala beads (a loop of prayer beads used for recitations) that I had been using for many years was also nowhere to be found. The thought that my mala — something so sacred to me — was now in the hands of some burglar really irked me. But wasn’t I supposed to be practising the Dhamma, learning to let go and flow with the circumstances that life presented? 

Some retreatants were so upset that they packed up and left immediately, even though the seven-day retreat had not yet ended. The police were called in to conduct the investigations. After the police left, the Chán Buddhist teacher-in-charge of the retreat said to us, “‘Guan Yin Bodhisattva’ has come to steal your minds.” 

Wow, what a real-life kōan!  

(Editor’s Note: A kōan is often a case, statement or story, used in Chán Buddhism towards gaining an insight into one’s practice.) ! 

As I turned in for the night, although there was still a small part of me which felt “intruded” upon and slightly uncomfortable, overall, I could still feel a sense of calmness. I could hear myself saying the following, “Thank you, ‘Burglar Bodhisattva(s)’. I did not let you steal my mind…”

Wise Steps:

• Keep a still, peaceful mind amidst adverse circumstances, even when they happen to you.
• Material possessions come and go, but a peaceful, cultivated mind is a great treasure to possess.