Conversation With A Zen Master

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My travels took me to Sichuan Province
To the lush valley of the Danang River
Sitting on the grassy bank under a tree
Was a small man of great age and wisdom

As was the custom, I greeted the venerable one
With a slow, deep bow, addressing him formally
He laughed without opening his mouth then said
"Your Mandarin is terrible, do you speak Cantonese?"

"Yes Master," I replied, "but it's no better..."
He interrupted, "I will be the judge of that!
Now, you must have a reason for bothering me
What do you wish to say to me? Speak plainly!"

"Master," said I, "I want more
I need to do more, be more
I want to see more, feel more
Yes, I want all these things!"

He said, "Then you must see and feel less
And then may you do less and be less
Until you will want less and need less
Finally, there shall be no mind...nothing.

If you want something, start with nothing
No seeing things and no feeling things
No doing something and no being something
And no wanting or no needing anything!

First must you master the "no" in "nothing"
Then may you come to understand a thing
Once you are able to know the difference
Only then, will all these things be yours."

He added, "The path to Yes is the path to No
And the path to No is also the path to Yes...
Now tell me true, do you understand?"
"No," I admitted, quite perplexed.

"No? Good!" he answered with a smile.

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Daniel James Hennell, 2007