Fayan’s “Eye of the Way”
Once Zen master Fayan had the well uncovered. The outlet was clogged up with sand. He said to a monastic, “When the eye of the well is obstructed, sand is in the way. When the eye of the Way is obstructed, what is in the way?” The monastic could not answer.
Fayan answered for the monastic, “The eye is in the way.”
Student: “What did master Fayan mean when he said, ‘The eye is in the way when the eye of the Way is obstructed’?”
Master: “Do you see this?”
Student: “Yes, I do.”
Master: “What is this?”
Student: “It’s a stick.”
Master: “A stick prevents you from seeing the Way because the eye is in the way.”
Commentary:
Master means wind, but the student only sees the leaves fluttered by wind.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway http://ow.ly/i/Hhms4
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