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The Well-Kept Bowl
A monk asked the master:“If there is no self,why do you care for posture, breath, and the body?” The master took a simple clay bowl, rinsed it and placed it before the monk. The bowl was empty. The master went to the well, filled it with water and handed it to the monk. “Drink.” After the monk had drunk, the master turned the bowl upside down on the table. The master said: “Precisely because it is empty,it can hold clearly.” The monk asked: “And if it breaks?” The master repl

Gongan - Koans
Dec 26, 20251 min read


The Singing Heron
A student asked Master Zhuang: “Master, why do some choose the difficult pathwhen they could live comfortably in luxury?” Zhuangzi pointed to a heron walking through the marsh. “Do you see that bird over there?” “Yes, Master.” “He must take ten steps to find something to peck,and a hundred steps to find water to drink —and yet, he sings.” said Zhuangzi. The student asked: “And if someone feeds him?” Zhuangzi replied: “Then he stops singing.” The student asked again, “But why

Gongan - Koans
Oct 17, 20251 min read


Stagnation
A student came to Master Weizhen and said: “Master Weizhen, I often feel frozen inside. My thoughts keep circling around,and I don’t know...

Gongan - Koans
Oct 10, 20251 min read
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