Go and wash your bowl

Go and wash your bowl

A monk told Joshu, “I have just entered this monastery. I beg you to teach me.” Joshu asked, “Have you eaten your rice porridge?” The monk replied, “I have.” “Then,” said Joshu, “Go and wash your bowl.”
At that moment the monk was enlightened.

Student: “What did Joshu mean by ‘Go and wash your bowl’?”
Master: “Ask me again.”
Student: “What did he mean by ‘Go and wash your bowl’?”
Master: “You are not aware of the answer because you are looking for the meaning.”

Commentary:
How many times have we been asked ‘Have you eaten lunch?’?
How many times have we been told ‘Go and wash your bowl’?
How many times have we asked the same question to the people around us?
How many times have we told the same thing to our children?
There is nothing else other than what you say and do.
There is nothing else other than what you see and hear.

©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway http://ow.ly/i/zMAQf