The Land of Demons (EV42)

KOAN:

In Japan, long ago, a great minister, a high government official called Yu Di asked a master who was called Xi Yu Daotang about a line in the scripture.

“What is meant by, ‘Because of unfortunate circumstances, fierce winds blew the ship off course and set it drifting toward the land of the flesh-eating demons?’” 

[Rakshasas, they call them. They are demons whose existence is to eat human beings.]

And the master replied, “Minister, why are you so ignorant? Why are you asking about that?” And the minister’s face turned white.

And the master said, “Because of unfortunate circumstances, fierce winds blew them off course and set them adrift toward the land of the flesh-eating demons.”

And the minister understood. 

—Entangling Vines, Case 42