“Mr. Monk! How unusual! Today you are actually doing zazen . . .

 

Yeah, so what?”¹

 

The interaction in this painting’s inscription is characteristic of the playful dialogues exchanged between Zen master and student, with Hakuin placing Hotei atop his iconic sack, which he uses as a seat. This variation on Hotei’s traditional iconography highlights the importance of the practice of zazen, or seated meditation, from which Zen Buddhism derives its name, while also humorously illustrating that simple meditation alone will not bring about enlightenment, with the master replying with a simple, koan-like retort. The inscription even implies that Hotei does not regularly engage in the practice. In his approach to Zen portraiture, Hakuin often eschews pure reverence and imbues his sacred figures with playful—and approachable—human qualities.           

 

—Bradley Bailey