Layman Pang: Entry 2:: Instant Knowing

One day the Layman questioned Baling, asking, "Can people avoid talking about what they see with their eyes?"

Baling said, "How can it be avoided?"

The Layman said, "By knowing instantly! By knowing instantly!"

Baling said, "The carefree man is never beaten by the stick."

The Layman twirled around, saying, "Beat me! Beat me!"

Baling reached down and grabbed a stick, but the Layman snatched it from him and said, "So! Can you avoid seeing me?"

Baling did not reply.

The direct and non-progressive nature of Zen cuts off a lot of excuses that people make when questioned lightly, e.g.:

• Neccesity to think, ponder, meditate, contemplate it over before giving an answer.

• The belief that there is an internal defect that needs to be overcome in order to make heads or tails of a Zen case.

• The belif that making heads or tails of a Zen case is what Zen Masters have earned the capacity to do.

With the Layman and Baling, its fire touching fire;--an equivalent exchange that burns anyone if they try to grasp at it in the words.

OK.

But who is the truly carefree man?

Submitted June 06, 2022 at 04:16AM by ThatKir https://ift.tt/nMVyLFm