Ruiyan asked his teacher Yantou, “What is the original permanence?”
Yantou said, “Movement.”
Ruiyan said, “What happens when movement takes place?”
Yantou said, “You don’t see the original permanence.”
Ruiyan silently reflected on the matter.
Yantou said, “If you agree with this, you are bound by subject and object. If you disagree with this, you fall into an endless cycle of birth and death.”
Student: “Why don’t we see the original permanence when movement takes place?”
Master: “Because movement prevents you from seeing the original permanence.”
Student: “Why did Yantou say, ‘Movement’ when asked what the original permanence was?”
Master: “Because ‘movement’ prevented your seeing the original performance.”
Commentary:
When a master shows a fluttering leaf in order to explain the wind,
don’t be deluded by the leaf.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
#zen #meditation #zenmeditation #enlightened #enlightenment #zenfools #photography
Zen Fools 