Rinzai came to Myoge, who asked him, “Why all this coming and going?” Rinzai said, “Vainly wearing out the straw sandals.” Myoge said, “And in the end then what?” Rinzai retorted, “This old fellow does not even know what we are talking about.”
Commentary:
Although Myoge’s ‘Why all this coming and going?’, may appear to mean ‘What is the use of coming and going without practising steadily in one place?’, it actually implies ‘Do you know the true-Self that is leading your body to come and go?’. Sensing Myoge’s intention, Rinzai responded wisely by revealing the true-Self through saying ‘Vainly wearing out the straw sandals’. Myoge tested him one more time by saying ‘And in the end then what?’. Rinzai lost no time in retorting by saying ‘This old fellow does not even know what we are talking about’ which means ‘Why don’t you recognise the true-Self we are showing to each other now?’.
Student: “What were they talking about?”
Master: “They were talking about what can’t be said with words.”
Student: “What is it?”
Master: “It can’t be said.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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