04-07-2013, 12:00 AM
The Blue Cliff Record wrote:Jang asked, "Great Worthy, what are you aiming at by sitting meditation?"
Ma said, "I aim to become a Buddha."
Jang then took a tile and began to rub it on a rock in front of the hermitage; Ma asked him what he was doing, rubbing the tile.
Jang said, "I am polishing it to make a mirror."
Ma said, "How can you make a mirror by polishing a tile?"
Jang said, "Granted that rubbing a tile will not make a mirror, how can sitting meditation make a Buddha?"
Ma asked, "Then, what would be right?"
Jang said, "It is like the case of an ox pulling a cart: if the cart does not go, would it be right to hit to cart, or would it be right to hit the ox?"
Ma didn't reply.
Ma said, "I aim to become a Buddha."
Jang then took a tile and began to rub it on a rock in front of the hermitage; Ma asked him what he was doing, rubbing the tile.
Jang said, "I am polishing it to make a mirror."
Ma said, "How can you make a mirror by polishing a tile?"
Jang said, "Granted that rubbing a tile will not make a mirror, how can sitting meditation make a Buddha?"
Ma asked, "Then, what would be right?"
Jang said, "It is like the case of an ox pulling a cart: if the cart does not go, would it be right to hit to cart, or would it be right to hit the ox?"
Ma didn't reply.