This is a very interesting Zen story about the Buddhas Mind.
Nanyo was asked by a monk, ”what is the mind of the ancient Buddhas?”
Nanyo replied, ”it is fences, walls and broken tiles.”
The monk asked, ”fences, walls and broken tiles are insentient, are they not?”
”That is so,” replied Nanyo.
”Do they expound Buddhism?” Asked the monk.
”Always, and busily,” replied Nanyo.
The monk said, ”why didn’t I hear it, then?”
Nanyo answered, ”you don’t hear it, but you shouldn’t prevent others from doing so.”
”Who hears it?” Asked the monk.
”All the saints,” answered Nanyo.
”Does your grace hear it?” Asked the monk.
”Not I !” Replied Nanyo.
”If you don’t hear it, how can you explain the teaching of the law by inanimate creatures?” Asked the monk.
Nanyo answered, ”It is my good luck that i do not hear it. If i did, i would be the same as all the saints, and then you wouldn’t have the chance to hear my teaching.”
The monk said, ”If that is so, people would have no part in it.”
Nanyo said, ”I myself expound it for the sake of people, not for the sake of the saints.”
The monk asked, ”After the people hear it, what then?”
Nanyo replied, ”Then they are not just people anymore.”
Please share your thoughts on this story.
