A monk asked Master Joshu, “It is said that the perfect enlightenment is not difficult, and one should simply cease choosing. What does it mean to cease to choose?” Joshu replied, “In the heaven and on earth, I alone am the honoured one.” The monk said, “That, too, is still choosing.” Joshu responded, “You foolish monk! Where is the choosing in that?”
Student: “Why did Joshu say, ‘In the heaven and on earth, I alone am the honoured one’ when he was asked to explain about ceasing to choose?”
Master: “Because you failed to cease to choose.”
Commentary:
You can’t know whether Joshu ceased to choose or not until you can cease to choose.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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