Qingyuan’s “Come Closer”

Qingyuan’s “Come Closer”

Once a monastic asked Qingyuan, “What is the meaning of Bodhidharma’s coming from India?”
Qingyuan said, “It’s just like this!”
The monastic asked further, “What do you have to teach these days?”
Qingyuan said, “Come closer.”
The monastic moved closer.
Qingyuan said, “Keep this in mind.”

Student: “What is this that Qingyuan told the monastic to keep in mind?”
Master: “You should not keep it.”
Student: “Tell me what it is. How could I keep or not keep it when I don’t know what it is?”
Master: “Keep it.”

Commentary:
What can be kept is not it because it can’t be discarded.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

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