Yaoshan’s “This Buddha, That Buddha.”
Monastic Zun was at the assembly of Yaoshan and was the head altar attendant. While he was bathing Buddha images on Buddha’s birthday, Yaoshan asked him, “Have you bathed this one or have you bathed that one?” Zun said, “Please hand that one to me.”
Yaoshan stopped.
Student: “What is the difference between this Buddha and that Buddha?”
Master: “You see this Buddha and not that Buddha.”
Student: “What did Zun mean when he said, ‘Please hand that one to me’?”
Master: “He meant to show this Buddha.”
Commentary:
This Buddha is the appearance of that Buddha, and that Buddha is that of this Buddha.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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