A. Come again tomorrow.
I can’t tell you the answer today because I am not well today.
Commentary:
Come again tomorrow?
Don’t be fooled any more by the master.
His answer would be the same even if you were to come to him hundreds of times again.
If I were given the answer, I would say to him, “I am not asking him who is not well.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
A. Master: “All the things in the universe come from it.”
Student: “Then, are you from it, too?”
Master: “Of course.”
Student: “You are from your mother, Sir.”
Master: “My mother is also from it.”
Commentary:
One arrow and many targets.
Every time the student opens his mouth, targets multiply.
Which one should he shoot?
Take a close look at the point of your arrow.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
A. Don’t look in the wrong place for the horse that you are riding.
Commentary:
Listen carefully to what you say, and watch carefully what you do.
Your sayings and doings are from it.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
A. There are times like that. I am sure that you are not wide awake to your question during the experience. Some people say that they see beautiful angels or even the Buddha and Jesus Christ, some say they see their late parents or grandparents, some say that they see their previous lives, and others say they see ghosts or monsters as if having a nightmare. Do remember that everything you experience during your practice is nothing but an illusion whether fantastic or terrible. When you experience something beautiful you have never experienced in your life before, you are apt to feel attracted by it. They are only the actions of your emotions hidden in your sub-consciousness. If you feel attached to great figures like the Buddha or Jesus and scared of the terrible figures, you are fooled by illusions. Leave them alone and focus on your question, and they will disappear by themselves.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
A. Why do you think we can’t feel oneness? The habit of labelling prevents us from feeling oneness. Labelling is drawing lines that divide one into many. When we label a thing as red, we separate it from what doesn’t look red. The label, ‘red’ is a line that divides one into what is red and what is not red. When labeling a thing as good, the label ‘good’ is a line that divides one into what is good and what is not good.
We have produced countless divisions and are so addicted to them that we have forgotten the root, the original shape that we come from. The labels or divisions are referred to as illusions in Buddhism because they are not real but imaginary. Zen meditation can be said to be a practice that makes many into one by eliminating all labels or illusions. The most common and difficult label to erase is ‘I’. In order to eliminate the ‘I’, you need to realise what you are when your body is not you. When we eliminate the imaginary line ‘I’, then we can feel oneness with our surroundings.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
A. Master: “I can’t answer such a difficult question.”
Student: “What is an easy question, Sir?”
Master: “That is too easy a question to answer.”
Student: “What question shall I ask you then, Sir?”
Master: “Ask me a question which is neither difficult nor easy.”
Commentary:
What is a question which is neither easy nor difficult?
How charitable the master is by giving a delicious and nutritious fish to a poor person!
Why is he struggling with its bone without eating its meat?
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
A. Don’t think that you can’t see it. You are seeing and hearing it even at this moment. You can’t avoid seeing and hearing it. The key problem is that you can’t discern it because your eyes and ears are covered with illusions. Never think that your true-self is somewhere else out of your reach. There is nothing that doesn’t belong to your true-self. Even you yourself are not an exception. Whatever you do, cry, smile, commit a cruel crime or do good deeds, they are all actions of your true-self. In summary, you can no more get away from your true-self even for a moment than you can get away from the universe. So if you chase it for a moment, it is said, you will be going the wrong way.
Student: “What is the true-self like, Sir?”
Master: “Why do you ask me the taste of your saliva in your mouth?”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
A. Master: “I won’t answer.”
Student: “Why not?”
Master: Because I know that you won’t believe in my answer.
Student: “Tell me the answer, sir. I will accept it.”
Master: “I answered.”
Commentary:
The master is not telling a lie. Don’t break into pieces what he says.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
A. Bush.
Commentary:
How beautiful! Taking off all his clothing, he is showing himself naked.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
A. Fire!
Commentary:
However many times you may shout “Fire!” it never burns even your mouth, not to mention a piece of dry paper.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
Zen Fools 