AWAKEN

CHAPTER 1

Two monks were arguing about the temple flag waving in the wind.

One said, "The flag moves."

The other said, "The wind moves."

They argued back and forth but could not agree.

Hui-neng, the sixth patriarch, said: "Gentlemen! It is not the flag that moves. It is not the wind that moves. It is your mind that moves."

The two monks were struck with awe.

A monk asked Kegon, "How does an enlightened one return to the ordinary world?"

Kegon replied, "A broken mirror never reflects again; fallen flowers never go back to the old branches."

hat is your original face before you were born?

Elder Ting asked Lin-chi,

"Master, what is the great meaning of Buddha's teachings?"

Lin-chi came down from his seat, slapped Ting and pushed him away.

Ting was stunned and stood motionless.

A monk nearby said, "Ting, why do you not bow?"

At that moment Ting attained great enlightenment.

monk asked Master Haryo, "What is the way?"

Haryo said, "An open-eyed man falling into the well."

Once Ma-tsu and Pai-chang were walking along and they saw some wild ducks fly by.

"What is that?" the Master asked.

"Wild ducks," Pai-chang replied.

"Where have they gone?"

"They've flown away," Pai-chang said.

The Master then twisted Pai-chang's nose, and when Pai-chang cried out in pain, Ma-tsu said, "When have they ever flown away?"

Once Ma-tsu and Pai-chang were walking along and they saw some wild ducks fly by.

"What is that?" the Master asked.

"Wild ducks," Pai-chang replied.

"Where have they gone?"

"They've flown away," Pai-chang said.

The Master then twisted Pai-chang's nose, and when Pai-chang cried out in pain, Ma-tsu said, "When have they ever flown away?"