Convincing

In a philosophical gathering, Master Weizhen spoke about the Dao and immortality.

A student then asked, “Master, if I want to convince someone of the Dao, and I myself have already arrived at the Dao, how should I do it?”

Weizhen replied, “Open your hand.”

He picked up half of a sunflower seed shell from the ground — leftover bird food — placed it in the student’s hand, and continued, “How important is this shell to you?”

The student immediately threw it into the bushes. Weizhen burst into laughter.

“Perfect!” he said, and added, “You see? That’s how important it is to convince someone.”

The student asked, “But why?”

“It’s the same as the empty shell. At one point, it seemed important — now it no longer matters,” said Weizhen.

Still uncertain, the student asked, “But how can I convince someone of the truth?”

Weizhen replied, “It loses its importance. I never need to convince anyone. The Dao is as it is — just like nature. Beings may recognize it, or they may not. I can only offer impulses, but they must realize it themselves.”

The student thanked him and began to see things differently.