PORRIDGE AND TEA                 Venerable Master Hsing Yun

Ch'an Master Chao-chou devoted much of his attention to Buddhism in an everyday context. He displayed the charisma of a Ch'an master in his day-to-day activities. Once, a group of novices went to seek instruction from him. One novice respectfully requested, "Master, I've just entered monastic training. Please instruct me."

   

Chao-chou asked in reply, "Have you had your porridge yet?"

    "Yes," answered the student.

    "Go and wash your bowl!" instructed Chao-chou.

   

The first novice thus attained realization. Then the second one went and said, "Master, I've just entered monastic training. Please be compassionate and teach me." Instead of responding to his request, Chao-chou asked, "How long have you been here?"

   

"I have just arrived here today," replied the second novice.

    "Have you had tea?" Chao-chou asked again.

    "Yes," he replied.

    "Then go and register in the assembly hall!" instructed the Master.

   

Having studied in this monastery for more than ten years, the third novice was different from the first two. He said to Chao-chou, "Master, I've been here for over a decade. Since I've never had the honor of obtaining instruction and guidance from you, I would like to take leave of you and study elsewhere."

   

Pretending to be surprised, Chao-chou complained, "That's unfair of you. Ever since you came here, I have drunk the tea that you brought me each time. Whenever you offered me food, I ate it.  Each time you greeted me with your palms together, I lowered my eyes. Whenever you prostrated yourself at my feet to pay me homage, I nodded my head in response. I've given you my instruction on everything. How could you say such a terrible thing about me?"

   

After hearing this, the third novice was thinking hard about what Chao-chou had said to him.  Then, the Master interrupted, "It's enough if you've understood what I said. Don't try to reason with your mind because thought is characterized by notions of differentiation. It will lead you astray from the right Path to the Dharma."

   

Although he seemed to understand, the novice still asked, "How can I always stay on the right Path?"

   

Chao-chou observed, "To liberate yourself from the unenlightened mind, there is no other holy way—if one is unattached to deluding conditions, one will instantaneously attain enlightenment."

   

Neither the Dharma nor the mind of Ch'an is divorced from daily life. Thus, having tasty food is Ch'an, and so is sleeping peacefully. The Dharma will become useless if it is separated from life. Today, many practitioners concentrate their attention on the question of birth and death but ignore daily life. They are actually far from the right Path that is leading to the Truth.