《Ch’an Story》

Deformed

 A devotee told Chan Master Moxian, "My wife is extremely stingy. She will not spend even a penny on charity. Could you please come to my house and talk to her about engaging in benevolent deeds?"
      Very compassionately, Chan Master Moxian agreed.
      The next day, when he went to the devotee's house,

the wife came out to receive him. True to her miserly

nature, she did not even offer Chan Master Moxian

a cup of tea. Chan Master sat down and held out his fist,

asking, "Madame, look at my hand. What would you think

if my hand remained constantly in a fist?"
      The wife responded, "If it remained in a fist, then

your hand is deformed! Something must be wrong with it."
      Chan Master repeated her words back to her, saying,

"It is deformed!" In the meantime, he opened up his fist

and held out a flat palm to her, asking, "Were it like this

all the time, what do you think?"
      The wife responded, "That would be deformed too!"
      Seizing this opportunity, Chan Master immediately came to the point, saying, "Madame, you are right! A constant closed fist and a constant opened palm are both deformed. It is the same with the way we use money. If we are always closefisted, only concerned about getting more money, but never consider giving, we are deformed. If we are always open-handed, only thinking about spending but not saving, we are deformed as well. Money should flow like a smooth current. When it comes in, it should flow out too. There should be a balance in your receiving and giving."
      With this example from Chan Master Moxian, the devotee's wife had a clear idea about how to conduct herself in money matters.
     
      Some people go overboard in gathering wealth; some in giving. Neither of these two types of people are in accord with the Buddhist teaching of the Middle Way. Those who are stingy should know that the cause of wealth lies in giving joyfully and building affinity with others. Otherwise, how will it be possible for us to harvest without sowing in advance? Those who give and share should do so under the premise of not causing themselves anxiety and hardship. Otherwise, the deed itself is not pristine but contaminated. Chan Master's simile of a fist and a palm indeed has profound truth in it.