One of the best examples of Zen masters I've found (by way of explaining the kinds of bastards they could be) is the story One-Finger Zen. I don't have my book here (they're all in storage) so here's Wiki's summary:
Juzhi Yizhi, a 9th century Chinese Zen master, raised his finger whenever he was asked a question about Zen. A boy attendant began to imitate him in this way. When anyone asked the boy what his master had preached about, the boy would raise his finger.
Juzhi heard about the boy's mischief. He seized him and cut off his finger. The boy cried and ran away. Juzhi called and stopped him. When the boy turned his head to Juzhi, Juzhi raised up his own finger. In that instant the boy was enlightened.
There's also these! (http://www.101zenstories.com/) "Incense Burner" is my favourite, and this one (http://www.101zenstories.com/index.php?story=29) is required reading for this (http://community.livejournal.com/lol_buddha/824.html#cutid1) macro.
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Juzhi Yizhi, a 9th century Chinese Zen master, raised his finger whenever he was asked a question about Zen. A boy attendant began to imitate him in this way. When anyone asked the boy what his master had preached about, the boy would raise his finger.
Juzhi heard about the boy's mischief. He seized him and cut off his finger. The boy cried and ran away. Juzhi called and stopped him. When the boy turned his head to Juzhi, Juzhi raised up his own finger. In that instant the boy was enlightened.
There's also these! (http://www.101zenstories.com/) "Incense Burner" is my favourite, and this one (http://www.101zenstories.com/index.php?story=29) is required reading for this (http://community.livejournal.com/lol_buddha/824.html#cutid1) macro.