No beard?

Wakuan said, “Why has the Western Barbarian no beard?”

Wakuan saw a picture of bearded Bodhidharma He complaint "Why has the barbarian  from the West no beard?"

Mumon’s Comment

Study should be real study, enlightenment should be real enlightenment.

You should once meet this barbarian directly to be really intimate with him.

But saying you are really intimate with him already divides you into two.

Mumon’s Verse

      Don’t discuss your dream

      Before a fool.

      Barbarian with no beard

      Obscures the clarity.

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When you trim and and maintain your beard it holds a strong presence in your consciousness. Every time you look in the mirror your beard is a thing to focus on. If you neglect your beard it holds absolutely no existence to your reality. You look in the mirror and don't notice your beard at all. Does your awareness determine the reality of things? If you neglect your ego, would your ego still exist?

Have you seen light? No, you've only seen the substance light reflects against.

Someone once said you only know there are fish in the pond when you see the lily pads move.

Do you know zen or only see the substance zen reflects against?

See how others project their preference onto others, it is my turn to be made a fool.

Submitted May 24, 2019 at 09:36PM by gimmethemcheese http://bit.ly/2WlWyF3