When the new pupil Hsing-hua arrived at Lin-chi’s monastery and was received by the master, he immediately asked him: – Master, what is the difference between the enlightened one and the not-enlightened one?
– Who?
– The enlightened one and the not-enlightened one.
– And who are you?
– My name is Hsing-hua.
– Mine is Lin-chi.
Hsing-hua hesitated, then he asked again: – Master, what is the difference between the enlightened one and the not-enlightened one?
– Hsing-hua!
– Yes, master!
– There. Try to repeat it now.
But the new pupil still hesitated, then Lin-chi jumped upon him and holding his forefinger in front of him said: – So, the eyes are two: how many finger can you see?
A shiver ran down Hsing-hua’s spine.
Poem
The rain falls screening
a transmission defect:
dry window
wet eyes
A raindrop has fallen
on the lash.
Can you see it?
One three seven onehundredandseven eyes
one eye for every raindrop.
Originally posted in Italian on August 15, 2008 at 17:09
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