Pointing at the Moon. Alexander Holstein

meaning of what he asked about. Who could answer such a question? This is why Shih T'ou replied with a contrary question that was too inexplicable for Yao Shan to understand. Actually, the answers of both Ch'an masters were different in form but identical in meaning. The "sometimes,

      I ask this to raise its eyebrows and blink its eyes" was equivalent to the "positive"; the "... I don't ask this..." was equivalent to the "negative"; and ". . . it is this itself that ... it is not this" is representative of the unity of the positive and the negative. "This" means self-nature. "A mosquito biting the iron buffalo" referred to the poor kung-fu of Yao Shan during his conversation with Master Shih T'ou. It was Ma Tsu who opened Yao Shan's eyes, making him realize the fact that before, he'd merely tried to enter the doors that were "painted on the wall."

      Male and Female

       ONCE, A Buddhist nun asked Ch'an master Lung T'an what way she might best follow to polish her virtue and become a monk in her next life.

      "How long is it since you became a nun?" the master asked her.

      "Enough of this jeering," she cried. "How stupid this is! My only question is: Will the day ever come when I am a monk, Master?"

      "Who are you now?"

      "I'm a nun. Who doesn't know that?" she scoffed.

      "But who knows that?" retorted the master.