Description
On a dusky evening late in winter, early in spring, a woman found herself entering a temple. A seat had waited for her, and as she tucked in her legs and heard the chorus of soft breathing, her own breath seemed to join in, and this intrigued her.
Summary
On a dusky evening late in winter, early in spring, a woman found herself entering a temple. Just why is hard to know. But a seat had waited for her, and as she tucked in her legs and heard the chorus of soft breathing, her own breath seemed to join in, and this intrigued her.
Then the teacher began to speak:
There’s a buddha of infinite light in your own body, he said.
Once that buddha appears, mountains, rivers, trees, and the whole earth suddenly shine with a great light. To see this, you have to look inside your own heart.
This, too, was intriguing. That doesn’t sound so hard, thought the woman.
Listen to a tale of awakening to the ordinary brilliance of each and everything.
It’s nice to remember it’s not so hard.
KOAN:
There was a woman who kept the pilgrims’ inn at Hara under Mount Fuji. She called on Hakuin and was greatly enlightened. Her name is unknown, and it is not known when she was born or died. She went to hear a talk by Hakuin, who said,
“They say there’s a Pure Land of mind only, and a buddha of light in your own body. Once that buddha of light appears, mountains, rivers, earth, grass, trees and forests suddenly glow with a great light. To see this, you have to look inside your own heart. Then, what should you be looking for, when you look inside your own heart? If you’re looking for mind only, what kind of special features would it have? If you’re looking for the Buddha of Infinite Light in your own body, how would you recognize it?”
When she heard this, the woman said, “This isn’t so hard.” She meditated day and night, while she was awake and during her sleep. One day, as she was washing a pot, she had a sudden breakthrough. She threw the pot aside and rushed to see Hakuin. She said, “I’ve met Buddha in my own body, and everything on earth is shining with a great light—it’s wonderful!” And she danced for joy.
“Is that so?” said Hakuin. “But what about a pile of shit? Does that also shine with a great light?”
The woman ran up and slapped him, and said, “You still don’t get it, you old fart!”
Hakuin roared with laughter.”
Sunday Zen with Tess Beasley & Friends, March 1st, 2026
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