Huangbo told a monastic, “All the venerable ones in various places all over the country are on top of my staff.” The monastic bowed. Later the monastic went to see Dashu and told him the story. Dashu said, “Huangbo said so, but has he seen the various places?” The monastic went back to Huangbo and told him about it. Huangbo said, “My words have already reached all over the country.” Langye commented on this, “Dashu’s response was like someone who seemed to have eyes but was really blind. Huangbo’s single staff cannot be bitten and chewed by anyone in this country.”
Student: “What did Huangbo mean by saying, ‘All the venerable ones in various places all over the country are on top of my staff’?”
Master: “He didn’t say so.”
Student: “What did Dashu imply by answering, ‘Huangbo said so, but has he seen the various places?’?”
Master: “He didn’t say so.”
Student: “What did Huangbo mean by saying, ‘My words have already reached all over the country’?”
Master: “His words have already reached here, too.”
Student: “What did Langye mean by ‘Dashu’s response was like someone who seemed to have eyes but was really blind’?”
Master: “His blindness cannot be surmounted by your good sight.”
Student: “What does ‘Huangbo’s single staff cannot be bitten and chewed by anyone in this country’ imply?”
Master: “Why don’t you stop biting and chewing it?”
Commentary:
Struggling with the words that were not spoken by masters is biting and chewing their staffs.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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