Lingli Taoist

When Zen Master Nanquan Puyuan was abbot of a temple in Henan, a monk named Zhaozhou came from Shandong to visit and seek the Tao. Zen Master Nanquan said to Zhaozhou: You were unfortunately here today. I want to go up the mountain to work and have no time to talk to you. Please cook yourself at that time, and don’t forget to send a serving up the mountain to eat for me.

After Zen Master Nanquan said that, he went up the mountain alone to do business. Zen Master Zhaozhou cooked and ate by himself. After eating, he was idle for a while and fell asleep while lying on the bed.Zen Master Nanquan did not see Zhaozhou delivering food, so he went down the mountain to return to the temple and saw Zhaozhou sleeping soundly.Zen Master Nanquan also went to bed and lie beside him to sleep.When Zhaozhou woke up, Zen Master Nanquan said to him: I have seen a lively Taoist in Lingli before, but I have never seen him again until now.As he said that, he picked up the Zen Staff and shook it, pointed at the Zen Staff and asked Zhaozhou: Does that Lingli Taoist look like this?

Zhaozhou replied: It’s different.

Zen Master Nanquan asked again: Have you seen it? Otherwise, how could he know that he is different?

Zhaozhou replied: If you want to know where I have seen the Lingli Taoist, please put down the Zen Staff first.

Zen Master Nanquan said very happily: I have confirmed your pair of wise eyes!

After pausing for a while, Zhaozhou asked Zen Master Nanquan: Teacher! The way is not outside the object, but the way is not outside the object. What is the way outside the object?

Zen Master Nanquan did not answer a word, picked up his stick and hit Zhaozhou. Zhaozhou reached out to grab Nanquan's stick and said: Don't hit the wrong person in the future.

Zen Master Nanquan said happily: It is easy to distinguish between dragons and snakes, and true monks should not be deceived!

When Zen Master Zhaozhou was a child, he also worshipped Zen Master Nanquan Puyuan as his master. When he came back again, he asked, "The master worked and his disciples rested." When the disciples were eating, the master went hungry. When the disciples were sleeping, the master did not dare to wake him up. It was true like three points of master and disciple and seven points of fellow Taoists.

The teacher used a Zen stick to hit him, not only did he refuse to admit the wrong person, but he also asked the teacher not to recognize the wrong person. Only then did the teacher say happily that it is not easy to encounter a real Zen master like you!

Zen! That’s not necessarily. From the front or from the outside, Zen is achieved through enlightenment from the inside!