Zen

Somewhere free from illness (1)

There was a man whose mother was suffering from incurable illness. No matter how much he wanted to help his mother, there was nothing he could do in this world. He felt like running away with his mother to somewhere free from such an illness and said to his mother, “Mum, let’s run away somewhere.” Hearing this, she just made a pale smile without any words.

Student: “Is there anywhere else beyond here where we can escape illness and death?”

Master: “There is.”

Student: “Where is it?”

Master: “Not far.”

Commentary:

It is neither far nor near because there is no distance at all.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

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