Dongshan’s “Going Beyond Buddha”
Zen master Dongshan Liangjie of Mount Dong said to the assembly, “Experience going beyond Buddha and say a word.”
A monastic asked him, “What is saying a word?”
Dongshan said, “When you say a word, you don’t hear it.”
The monastic said, “Do you hear it?”
Dongshan said, “When I am not speaking, I hear it.”
Student: “Why don’t we hear it when we say a word?”
Master: “Because it is beyond words.”
Student: “Can you hear it now?”
Master: “I couldn’t answer your question if I heard it now?”
Commentary:
When you are lost in just the wrapping, you lose the sight of its contents.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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