Zen master Shibei of Xuansha was once asked by a monastic, “You said that the entire world of the ten directions is one bright pearl. How can I understand the meaning of this?”
Xuansha said, “The entire world of the ten directions is one bright pearl. Why is it necessary to understand the meaning of this?”
On the following day Xuansha said to the monastic, “The entire world of the ten directions is one bright pearl. How do you understand the meaning of this?” The monastic replied, “The entire world of the ten directions is one bright pearl. Why is it necessary to understand the meaning of this?” Xuansha said, “Now I know that you are living inside the cave of demons on the black mountain.”
Student: “Why was the monastic wrong when he gave the same answer that the master had said?”
Master: “Because the monastic didn’t copy the master’s words exactly.”
Commentary:
Don’t mistake the sweet taste of sugar-coated medicine for the essence of the medicine itself.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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