Zen master Nanquan once visited a village. For this occasion, the village headman had made arrangements to welcome him beforehand.
Nanquan said, “Usually my coming and going is not known about by others, how is it that you knew of my coming and prepared for it like this?”
The headman said, “Last night the deity of this land told us that you were coming.”
Nanquan said, “Nanquan has not practised hard enough and was seen by a spirit.”
His attendant said, “You are a master of great knowledge. Why is it that you were noticed by a spirit?”
Nanquan said, “Offer a bowl of rice to the land deity.”
Student: “Why was the master noticed by the land deity?”
Master: “It was the headman that was noticed and fooled by it.”
Commentary:
What comes and goes is not the true-Self.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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