Caoshan’s “Love between Parent and Child

Caoshan’s “Love between Parent and Child”

Caoshan was once asked by a monastic, “A child went back to her parent. Why didn’t the parent pay attention to her?”
Caoshan said, “It is quite natural just like that.”
The monastic said, “Then where is the love between parent and child?”
Caoshan said, “The love between parent and child.”
The monastic said, “What is the love between parent and child?”
Caoshan said, “It cannot be split apart, even when hit with an axe.”

Student: “Why doesn’t the parent pay attention to the child when she comes back to the parent?”
Master: “Because the child has never left the parent’s breast even though the child thinks he has come back.”
Student: “Why can’t the love between parent and child be split apart even with an axe?”
Master: “Because the axe is also the love.”

Commentary:
The love between the parent and the child can’t be split apart even with an axe any more than winds and air can with a wind.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

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