student – Page 12

Buddha, Buddhism, Enlightenment, final goal, Happiness, illusion, master, Meditation, Mind, One, root, self, student, true self, Truth, Uncategorized, Zen

Q200. How can I discard ignorance and attain wisdom?

May 12, 2016 Zen Fools

A. Don’t try in vain to abandon one and attain the other. It’s like trying to discard the left and attain only the right. In fact, both are one when you know them. They only look separate and different from each other when you don’t know them. Try to realise what the ignorance is that you think you have, rather than striving to attain the wisdom you think you don’t have. Wisdom is none other than to know what ignorance is. Becoming Buddha is realising what a sentient being is.

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Student: “What shall I do when I have a thief in my house?”

Master: “Once you know him, he is not an enemy any longer.”

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

Buddha, Buddhism, Enlightenment, final goal, illusion, master, Meditation, Mind, self, student, true self, Truth, Uncategorized, Zen

Q198. Student: “What is your true-self?”

May 8, 2016 Zen Fools

A. Master: “I don’t have such a thing.”

Student: “Then, what are you when your body is not you?”

Master: “True-self.”

Commentary:

A wrapper, however attractive, is harmful to your health if you eat it.

Throw it away and eat only the contents.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

Buddha, Buddhism, emptiness, empty, Enlightenment, final goal, illusion, Koan, master, Meditation, Mind, Practice, root, student, true self, Truth, Uncategorized, Zen

Q197. How can we remove our illusions like removing mud from muddy water in a bottle?

May 5, 2016May 5, 2016 Zen Fools

A. To remove our illusions, like removing mud from muddy water, doesn’t mean to remove them from our mind to another place in the same way that we might move things from one place to another; rather, we should realise that illusions are not real but empty. In other words, it is necessary to realise that what we think of as mud is not mud at all, but just water itself; it only appears as mud due to our discrimination. Trying to move illusions to another place is like trying to remove lion’s horn. The only way to remove lion’s horn is just to realise that no lion has a horn.

Student: “How can I remove my illusions?”

Master: “Where are they?”

Student: “They are in my mind.”

Master: “Where is your mind?”

Student: “I don’t know.”

Master: “Try to find your mind before trying to remove your illusions.”

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

emptiness, Enlightenment, final goal, illusion, master, Meditation, Mind, moment, Practice, root, student, true self, Truth, Uncategorized, Zen

Q196. Student: “What is the true-self?”

May 3, 2016May 3, 2016 Zen Fools

A. Master: “Ask me one more time.”

Student: “What is the true-self?”

Master: “I am not deaf. Why do you ask the same question two times?”

Commentary:

What a poor student!

He can’t distinguish an answer from a question.

If you are to see and hear new things, stop keeping company with your old friends.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

Buddha, Buddhism, emptiness, empty, final goal, Koan, Meditation, Mind, self, student, true self, Truth, Uncategorized, Zen

Q186. Student: “Why is it so difficult to express the true-self?”

April 10, 2016April 10, 2016 Zen Fools

A. Master: “Not difficult at all.”

Student: “Do it for me, Sir.”

Master: “Difficult.”

Commentary:

Don’t draw a bow after the thief ran away.

If I were asked to do it, I would say, “Easy”.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

Buddhism, Enlightenment, final goal, master, Mind, Practice, root, student, true self, Truth, Uncategorized, Zen

Q174. Student: “What is your true-self?”

March 13, 2016March 13, 2016 Zen Fools

A. Master: “A gate.”

Student: “How can I see it?”

Master: “Open it.”

Student: “How can I open it?”

Master: “Break it open.”

Commentary:

All gates are wide open.

Don’t bump into the gate itself, just pass through the gateway.

Trying to open it is turning your back on it.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

Buddha, Buddhism, Enlightenment, final goal, illusion, master, Meditation, Mind, One, Religion, root, self, student, true self, Truth, Uncategorized, Zen

Q162. Student: “What are you when your body is not you?”

February 14, 2016February 14, 2016 Zen Fools

A. Master: “I am you.”

Commentary:
Watch out!
You are prone to fall into the den of ghosts.

Buddha, Buddhism, Enlightenment, final goal, Happiness, illusion, Koan, master, Meditation, Mind, Practice, root, student, true self, Truth, Uncategorized, Zen

Q156. Student: “What are you when your body is not you?”

January 17, 2016 Zen Fools

A. Master: “A rat.”

Student: “Why do you say that you are a rat?”

Master: “Because of karma.”

Commentary:

Look and listen carefully.

It is not a rat but your eyes and ears that matter.

©Boo Ahm

Buddhism, Enlightenment, final goal, illusion, master, Meditation, Mind, Practice, root, student, true self, Uncategorized, Zen

Q153. Student: “What am I when my body is not me?”

January 10, 2016January 10, 2016 Zen Fools

A. Master: “Where are you from?”
Student: “I am from New York.”
Master: “How did you come?”
Student: “By plane.”
Master: “How is the weather there these days?”
Student: “Very fine.”
Master: “That’s all. Nothing else.”