“A Nuisance”
He could not take his meals by himself. If he tried, the tip of his nose would reach down into the boiled rice in his bowl. (…) one of his disciples sit opposite him and hold up the end of his nose. A person who cannot do without one’s help it is always a problem. In this case, it became ironic because of the nose – it looks odd when somebody helps to deal with another’s nose. The disciples seem to be calm and polite, but Zenchi is depressed. Helplessness is striking Zenchi greatly.
“A treatment”
The formula was a simple one: first to boil the nose in hot water, and then to let another trample on and torment it. The continuing of sharp irony on Zenchi: the monk had so great will to get rid of his nuisance that he was ready to try any means. He didn’t want but his nose was treated like something inconsiderable during the procedures. Not only nose but also Zenchi himself was trampled in these moments.
“An achievement”
He stroked the tip of his nose and (…) recognized the same relief he had felt when he had completed the austerities required for his transcription of the lengthy Lotus Sutra of his sect. A great part the story is a description of Zenchi’s looking for the same nose and for the methods of treating. His life was not that of a monk, but of the man with a big nose. There’s no doubt that Zenchi firstly felt a great relief that he could compare with the work of his life.
