Love.
Do not think of others and waste your time;
really, that is a subtle and cunning way of the mind
to escape from itself.
Do not think of others and waste your time;
really, that is a subtle and cunning way of the mind
to escape from itself.
Once a monk asked Ummon:
Sir, you always say that Buddhism helps us in every
possible way,
but how can it help the blind, the deaf or the dumb?
The blind cannot see the teacher's staff that is
raised before them,
the deaf cannot hear the teacher's words, no matter
how wise,
the dumb cannot ask their questions or speak
their understanding:
so since we cannot help these people
how can we say that Buddhism helps in every
possible way?
What good is it?
Ummon just remained silent for a while
and then abruptly poked at the questioner with his stick.
The monk of course jumped back.
Ah! said Ummon. I see you are not blind!
Then he told the monk to come forward, which he did.
Ah-ha! said Ummon. I see you are not deaf!
Then he asked the monk
if he understood what all this to-do was about.
The monk said he did not.
Ah-ha! said Ummon. I see you are not dumb!
Sir, you always say that Buddhism helps us in every
possible way,
but how can it help the blind, the deaf or the dumb?
The blind cannot see the teacher's staff that is
raised before them,
the deaf cannot hear the teacher's words, no matter
how wise,
the dumb cannot ask their questions or speak
their understanding:
so since we cannot help these people
how can we say that Buddhism helps in every
possible way?
What good is it?
Ummon just remained silent for a while
and then abruptly poked at the questioner with his stick.
The monk of course jumped back.
Ah! said Ummon. I see you are not blind!
Then he told the monk to come forward, which he did.
Ah-ha! said Ummon. I see you are not deaf!
Then he asked the monk
if he understood what all this to-do was about.
The monk said he did not.
Ah-ha! said Ummon. I see you are not dumb!
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