Nothing exists.

The Chan disciple Yamaoka Tesshū (Japanese: 山岡鉄舟, Yamaoka Tesshū)

wandered from master to master, in search of true insight.

Finally, he appeared before Dokuon (Japanese: 独園承珠, Dokuon Jōshu) at Shōkoku Temple.

To demonstrate his insight, Tesshū said:

"Mind, Buddha, and all beings ultimately do not exist.

The true nature of all phenomena is emptiness.

There is no realization,

no delusion,

no wisdom,

no means.

There is no giving and nothing that is received."

Dokuon sat silently and smoked his bamboo pipe.

He said nothing.

Suddenly, he struck Tesshū's head hard with his pipe.

Tesshū jumped up— full of anger.

Dokuon looked at him calmly and asked:

"If nothing exists...

where does this anger come from?"

Tesshū felt the anger pass as quickly as it had come.

Silence.