Master Woonmun said, “It is said that enlightenment can be attained through hearing sounds and seeing things. What is it to attain enlightenment through hearing sounds and seeing things?”
He, raising his hand, said, “Avalokiteshvara brought money and bought a cake.”
He, lowering his hand, said, “It was really a pudding!”
Student: “Why did Woonmun, raising his hand, say, ‘Avalokiteshvara brought money and bought a cake’?”
Master: “Why don’t you attain enlightenment in spite of seeing things and hearing sounds.”
Commentary:
We are surrounded by and covered with things and sounds all the time.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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