Deshan was once asked by a monastic, “Who was able to hear Shakyamuni Buddha’s talk at the assembly on Vulture Peak?” Deshan said, “The enlightened heard it.” The monastic said, “I wonder what was spoken at the assembly on Vulture Peak?” Deshan said, “The enlightened understand it.”
Student: “What did the enlightened hear?”
Master: “What do you hear now?”
Student: “What did they understand?”
Master: “It cannot be written down.”
Commentary:
Words are no more than a wrapper, not the contents.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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