The Naturalness of Animals
- Gongan - Koans
- Jan 30
- 1 min read
A student asked Master Weizhen:
“Master, is man superior to animals?”
Weizhen looked at him calmly and asked:
“What do you call superiority?
To dominate others by force?”
The student startled.
“No, Master. Certainly not.”
Weizhen continued:
“Is it superiority
when humans believe
they may shape the world in their own image?”
The student hesitated, then said quietly:
“That would be blasphemy…”
Weizhen nodded.
“Often humans believe
they know what they are doing,
yet they do not see
what they create.
And they are confused
when nature heals itself
and their works disappear.”
The master pointed to a bird
resting quietly on a branch.
“Animals teach us something simple:
Naturalness means to be,
without excess,
without arrogance,
without the need
to dominate the world.”
The student bowed.
This time, without further questions.
