Yangshan was asked by Guishan, “Where have you been?” Yangshan said, “In the midst of the rice fields.” Guishan said, “How many people were there in the rice fields?” Yangshan held his hoe in folded hands and kept standing. Guishan said, “Nowadays there are many people weeding here in South Mountain.” Yangshan walked away, dragging the hoe.
Student: “Why did Guishan say, ‘There are many people weeding in South Mountain’ although Yangshan didn’t mention any number?”
Master: “Because Yangshan showed the weeding people to Guishan so that he might count them in person.”
Commentary:
How many fingers do you have when two is not a pair and one is not single?
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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