When a monastic asked Master Jangsa, “Does the original man become the Buddha?” the master said, “Tell me. Does an emperor sow seeds and harvest rice himself?” The monastic said, “Well, who becomes the Buddha then?” The master said, “You do.” The monastic didn’t respond, and the master asked him, “Do you understand?” The monastic said, “No, I don’t know.” The master said, “The one who fell on the ground has to get up on his feet depending on the ground, but the ground never says anything to him.”
Student: “What is the original man?”
Master: “Everybody, including the Buddha, is his servant.”
Commentary:
An emperor’s dreaming that he is asking for charity as a beggar is the way sentient beings live.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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