This is the 51st case from Wansong's Book of Serenity,
Fayan asked Elder Jiao, "Did you come by boat or by land?"
Jiao said, "By boat."
Fayan said, "Where is the boat?"
Jiao said, "The boar is on the river."
After Jiao had withdrawn, Fayan turned and asked a monk standing by, "You tell me, did that monk just now have eyes or not."
We already talked a bit about the intro, the one about the mundane truth and how people are enlightened in it. So now we get to this case, where this very cool conversation happens and Yuanwu is full of praise for Jiao. After Jiao's first answer, Yuanwu said, "He speaks deeply on the mark of reality and skillfully explains the essence of the teaching." And also added later, "Here ninety-nine out of a hundred would present a display of their abilities; but he was at ease with reality, even and poised—where does he engage spear and shield with you?"
Some people have gotten mad when I say that Zen is all about reality. But what's better than being at ease with how things are? Wouldn't acting according to circumstances make you a serene person much more than any ideas you have to constantly remind yourself of or practices you have to make yourself do? Just a pitch.
Submitted April 22, 2023 at 05:25AM by astroemi https://ift.tt/6Dyk0NX
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