17: NATION-TEACHER THREE TIMES

Nation-Teacher Prajñā-Devotion called three times to his attending monk, and three times the attending monk answered.

“I was about to say that I’ve turned my back on you,” said Prajñā-Devotion. “But it’s you—from the very beginning of things, it’s you who’ve turned your back on me!”

NO-GATES COMMENT

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The Nation-Teacher called three times, and his tongue fell to the ground. The attending monk answered three times, and his answers revealed such hidden radiance. The Nation-Teacher was old, his mind perfectly alone. It was like holding an ox’s head to grass so it could eat, but the monk couldn’t have cared less. If you’re stuffed to the gills, what good is gourmet food?

Right now: speak up! Tell me! How is it they turned their backs on each other?

When the nation is lucid, sage talents are treasured. When a family is prosperous, little children are pampered.

GATHA

▪▪▪

A master’s burden is like iron prison-stocks without holes: bequeathed to descendants, it renders idleness impossible.

 

If you want to support our house, prop up gates and doors, it’s simple enough: go barefoot, scale mountains of daggers.