Zen

Joshu’s ‘Have a cup of tea’ (2)

Joshu asked a monk, “Have you been here before?” The monk said, “Yes, I have.” Joshu said, “Have a cup of tea.” Joshu asked another monk, “Have you ever been here?” The monk answered, “No, I have not.” Joshu said, “Have a cup of tea.”

Student: “Why did Joshu only tell the monks to have a cup of tea although they made different answers?”

Master: “Because their destinations are the same although they are lost in different places.”

Commentary:

The map to the Buddha’s Kingdom has nothing but the destination because there is nothing between the travellers and the destination.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

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