When Master Angsan was a head monk, he received a letter and a mirror delivered from his master Wisan. Angsan, showing the mirror to the assembly, said, “Tell me whether this mirror belongs to me Angsan, or my master Wisan? If you say that this is Wisan’s, this is in my hand now. If you say that this is mine, this is what Wisan had delivered to me. If you can say, I’ll leave them alone, but if you can’t, I will break it.” No one could say the answer, and Angsan broke it by throwing it on the floor.
Student: “Why did Angsan break the mirror?”
Master: “He returned it to its original owner.”
Commentary:
Each piece of the broken mirror reflects its owner.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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