Dongshan told the assembly at the end of the summer training period, “When summer ends and autumn begins, go straight to a place where there is not an inch of grass for ten thousand miles.” No one in the assembly could respond. Later, a monastic told Shishuang about it. Shishuang said, “Why didn’t you say, ‘There is grass everywhere one step outside the gate’?”
Student: “Where is the place where there is not an inch of grass for ten thousand miles?”
Master: “Dongshan and Shishuang showed it.”
Student: “Where is it?”
Master: “It is where you can do nothing.”
Commentary:
The Buddha prefers doing nothing to doing a good thing.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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