I was looking for a case where one master sends another an empty letter, but I haven't had any luck in finding it. If anyone knows the case, please let me know where it's from.
Looking around I came across some other interesting cases, so will post those instead.
Qingsi asked Shitou to take a letter to Huaizhang at Nanyue. "You must return quickly after you deliver the letter. I have an axe to give you when you lead your own temple. "
Shitou went to present Qingsi's letter to Huaizhang, but first he asked him, "What is it like when teachers are no longer needed, but one's own understanding hasn't been recognized?"
Master Huaizhang said, "That's really a difficult question, can't you ask something simpler?"
Shitou said, "Even if I were re-born endlessly, I couldn't reach liberation by following teachers."
Huaizhang was silent and Shitou returned to Qingsi.
Qingsi said, "You weren't gone very long. Did you deliver my message?"
Shitou said, "No message was delivered and no news was communicated."
Qingsi said, "What do you mean?"
Shitou reported what he had done and then told Qingsi, "You said you would give me an axe when I leave here: go get it for me now."
Qingsi got up from his seat.
Shitou Xiqian bowed down and left at once for South Mountain.
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The Measuring Tap #29: Funiu Delivers a Letter
Funiu delivered a letter to the National Teacher for Mazu. The teacher asked, "What does Mazu teach people?"
I thought this was funny because it shows not even the delivery boys are safe from being questioned.
What do the cases have in common?
Submitted June 01, 2022 at 04:12PM by TheChemicalWhisperer https://ift.tt/NSyU8qE
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