Yunmen came out from the assembly and said, “What is the edge of Dharma body?”
Shushan said, “A dead camellia.”
Yunmen said, “What is going beyond Dharma body?”
Shushan said, “Not a dead camellia.”
Yunmen said, “Would you allow your student to speak about it?”
Shushan said, “Yes, I would.”
Yunmen said, “Does a dead camellia clarify the edge of Dharma body?”
Shushan said, “Yes, it does.”
Yunmen said, “Does something that is not a dead camellia clarify going beyond Dharma body?”
Shushan said, “No, it doesn’t.”
Student: “Why did Shushan say ‘No’ when he was asked if something that is not a dead camellia clarifies going beyond Dharma body although he had said ‘Not a dead camellia’ when asked what is going beyond Dharma body?”
Master: “Because the questioner didn’t go beyond a dead camellia.”
Student: “What is going beyond a dead camellia?”
Master: “Still a dead camellia.”
Commentary:
Whether ‘Dharma body’ is Dharma body, or the edge of it, is up to you.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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