Going to Wild Places
KOAN: People go to wild places to search for their true nature. Where is your true nature?
Xiangyan was once asked by a monastic, "What is the Way?"
Xiangyan said, "A dragon singing in a withered tree."
The monastic said, "What does it mean?"
Xiangyan said, "Eyeballs in a skull."
Later, another monastic asked Shishuang Chuyuan, "What is a dragon singing in a dead tree?"
Shishuang said, "It still has joy."
—Xuedou's verse commentary on Blue Cliff Record Case 2
KOAN: People go to wild places to search for their true nature. Where is your true nature?