Someone outside our Buddha-Way sangha asked the World-Honored One: “I’m not asking about Presence or what can be said. And I’m not asking about Absence or what can’t be said.”
The World-Honored One just sat there, still.
“World-Honored One,” the outsider said in praise and admiration, “vast in compassion, vast in sympathy—you’ve opened the clouds of my delusion, showing me how to enter inside Buddha-Way itself.” Then he bowed reverently and left.
Deep with inquiry, Ānanda asked Buddha: “What did that outsider experience? What did he realize that made him grow so reverent in praise and admiration, and then leave?”
“He’s like a world-renowned horse,” replied the World-Honored One. “If it glimpses even the shadow of a whip, it’s off and running!”
NO-GATE’S COMMENT
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Ānanda was Buddha’s disciple, but he had nothing like that outsider’s insight. Right now: speak up! Tell me! Disciple of Buddha and outsider: how much difference is there?
GATHA
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Walk a sword-blade’s edge.
Wander an ice-blade’s edge.
Stuck on a cliffwall without
stairs or ladders: just let go!