When Bankei was preaching at Ryumon temple, a Shinshu priest, who believed in salvation through 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.”
Originally (African American Vernacular English, mid-1900s): Woke meant being awake and aware, especially about social and racial injustice. For example, someone who understood systemic racism or inequality might be described as “staying woke.”
Modern positive use: Still used by some to mean being socially conscious, aware of inequality, and supportive of justice (race, gender, LGBTQ+, environment, etc.).
Modern negative/critical use: In politics and media, some people use woke as a derogatory label for what they see as overly progressive or performative activism—like focusing too much on identity politics or being “too politically correct.”
“The difference between an artist who finds sales and someone like Vincent van Gogh, who never did, is that van Gogh quietly changed the world—while others simply passed through it.”
“I write about my own work because I want to speak for myself. I might not be the only authority, nor the best authority, but I want to participate in the writing of my own history. Why should artists be validated by outside authorities. I don’t like being paternalised and colonised by every Tom, Dick or Harry that comes along (male or female).”
