Tuesday, 28 January 2020

Joshu [778-897]: The man said, "This is a pure temple. Why is there dust?"

One day when Master Joshu was sweeping, a visiting layman said, "You are a great Zen Master – why are you sweeping?"

The master said, "Dust comes in from outside."

The man said, "This is a pure temple. Why is there dust?"

The master said, "Here comes some more!"

Joshu [778-897]

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Commentary: The layman at once makes distinctions, missing his mistake completely, while Joshu goes about doing his ordinary chores. "Dust comes in from outside"... what a skillful teaching!

The layman seemingly falls into error again, trying to make a mess of things with his vain ideas of purity and filth, but does he know something?

Joshu was quite compassionate to even let fall a few words about it as he cleaned the temple.



Submitted January 28, 2020 at 06:08PM by _WanderingRonin_ https://ift.tt/2O5sFnf

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