A. You should remember that all sayings from the Sutras, the Bible and masters are all like a piece of broken tile for knocking on the door. Let’s suppose you are locked in a burning room and trying to get out of it. The room has a single window through which you can escape from it but unfortunately you are not aware of the window. I throw a piece of broken tile at the widow in order to let you know the existence of the window, the only exit.
What should you do now? As soon as you hear the strike of the broken tile on the window or see the broken tile thrown into the room, you should be able to escape from the burning room through the window.
However, most of you pick up the tile and try to analyse it: the elements of it, location of its production, its colour, its weight, the effect it can have on the room and so on. This is the way you accept masters’ teachings, so you can’t avoid finding it difficult to get to the point of the teachings.
Which is your way of approaching Zen?
In order to catch the point of the teachings, don’t cling to the words themselves, but try to grasp the main
intention of their being spoken.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway.
intention of their being spoken.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway.
Zen Fools 