Publish Date:2023-06-23
One day while the monk Nanquan was working in the hills, a travelling monk approached to ask directions: “Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the famous Nanquan Monastery?” “I paid three dollars for this sickle.” Nanquan answered. “I wasn’t asking about the sickle, I just want to know how to get to the monastery.” The monk said again. Nanquan said: “And it’s very useful because it’s so sharp.” By emphasizing appearances, we miss the real thing. In paying too much attention to names and reputations, we can lay eyes on what we’re looking for but miss it completely.
(From Zen Stories: looking But Not Seeing)
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