Whatever Confronts You
KOAN:
Whatever confronts you, don’t believe it.
When something appears shine your light on it.
Have confidence in the light that is always working inside you.
– from the Record of Linji
A great minister asked, "I've been reading the sutras—what is meant by, 'A fierce wind has blown the ship off course, setting it drifting toward the land of the Rakshasas'?"
The teacher responded, "Why ask something like that?"
The great minister's face went pale with that response.
And the teacher repeated, "A fierce wind has blown the ship off course, setting it drifting toward the land of the Rakshasas!"
The minister understood.
—Entangling Vines Case 42
KOAN:
Whatever confronts you, don’t believe it.
When something appears shine your light on it.
Have confidence in the light that is always working inside you.
– from the Record of Linji