Zen

Yunmen’s “Where Are They?” (2)

Once Yunmen was asked by a monastic, “When birth and death come, how do we avoid them?”  Yunmen said, “Where are they?”

Student: “Why did Yunmen say, ‘Where are they?’ when asked how to avoid birth and death?”

Master: “Because they don’t come to him.”

Commentary:

If you try to hide, or run away, they will follow you to the end.

If you know where they are, they will never come to you.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

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