Layman P'ang's "Thief in the Grass"

The Layman went to see Chi-feng. He had barely entered the temple compound when Chi-feng said:

"What is it that this commoner keeps incessantly coming to the monasteries to get?"

Looking about him on both sides, the Layman said:

"Who's talking like that? Who's talking like that?"

Chi-feng shouted.

The Layman cried:

"Here I am!"

Chi-feng asked:

"Spoken straightforwardly, wasn't it?"

The Layman asked:

"What's behind, eh?"

Turning his head, Chi-feng exclaimed:

"Look, look!"

The Layman said:

"The thief in the grass met complete defeat, The thief in the grass met complete defeat"

Chi-feng said nothing.

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What do you incessantly keep coming to /r/zen to get?

Submitted November 12, 2019 at 08:57PM by ThatKir https://ift.tt/2O8teM2