Huineng's No North & South (GG23)

KOAN:

The fifth ancestor asked, “Where did you come from?”
“From south of the mountain,” said Huineng.
“What did you come for?” asked the ancestor.
“To become Buddha,” said Huineng.
“You cannot become Buddha because the people south of the mountain have no Buddha nature.”
Hunineng said, “Though there is south and north for people, how can there be a south and north for Buddha nature?”

—from the commentary on Gateless Gate Case 23 (Huineng’s Original Face)