[Buddha-l] Seduction of a holy man

[Franz Metcalf]

Gang,

Dan, touché! Of course Hakuin couldn't tell that story about himself. 
You made me chuckle at myself.

But, Dan, you also ask if knowing whether the Hakuin story is 
historical would "make it a better tale." That's an interesting 
question and Michael LaTorra has already begun to explore it. As he 
points out, the story is effectively a myth, and the truth and power of 
myth have little to do with history (perhaps, à la Eliade, *nothing* to 
do with history). Still, I fear knowing it was historically veridical 
and accurate *would* make it a better story for *me*. Reckon I just 
don't have that "God gene."

Franz