Hakuju's Sleep

Zen Story, Afternoon nap
Hakuju was a distinguished lecturer at the Tendai Sect College. As he lectured with his usual enthusiasm, one hot summer afternoon on the Chinese Classics, a few of his students were drifting into sleep. Hakuju on noticing his sleepy students, stopped in between and said, "It is a hot afternoon, is it not? Can't blame you for dozing off. Mind if I too join you?".

Saying so the master shut the text book, leaned on to his chair and went to sleep. Soon his snoring reverberated the room waking up his dozing students. They thus sat wake and alert and waited for the master who slept soundly to awaken.

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