Zhaozhou asked Nanquan, “What is the way?”
Nanquan said, “Ordinary mind is the way.”Zhaozhou asked, “Shall I try for that?”
Nanquan said, “If you try you’ll miss it.”
Zhaozhou asked, “How do I know it’s the way if I don’t try?”
Nanquan said, “The way has nothing to do with knowing or not knowing. Knowing is illusion;not knowing is ignorance. If you penetrate the way of no-trying, it will be wide open – empty and vast.What need is there to affirm this or deny it?”Zhaozhou was suddenly enlightened upon hearing this.
Zen Buddhist Teaching
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