From where have you come?
From the Great Cloud Monastery at Yueh Chou, answered Hui Hai.
Q: What do you hope to gain by coming here?
Hui Hai: I have come seeking the Buddha-dharma.
To this Ma Tsu replied, Instead of looking to the treasure house which is your very own, you have left home and gone wandering far away. What for? I have absolutely nothing here at all. What is this Buddha-dharma you seek?
Hui Hai prostrated himself and enquired, Please tell me to what you alluded when you spoke of a treasure house of my very own.
A: That which asked the question is your treasure house. It contains absolutely everything you need and lacks nothing at all. It is there for you to use freely, so why this vain search for something outside yourself?
No sooner were these words spoken than the Master received a great illumination and recognised his own mind! Beside himself with joy, he hastened to show his gratitude by prostrating himself again.
- Hui Hai
(720-814)
Chinese Zen master
From the Great Cloud Monastery at Yueh Chou, answered Hui Hai.
Q: What do you hope to gain by coming here?
Hui Hai: I have come seeking the Buddha-dharma.
To this Ma Tsu replied, Instead of looking to the treasure house which is your very own, you have left home and gone wandering far away. What for? I have absolutely nothing here at all. What is this Buddha-dharma you seek?
Hui Hai prostrated himself and enquired, Please tell me to what you alluded when you spoke of a treasure house of my very own.
A: That which asked the question is your treasure house. It contains absolutely everything you need and lacks nothing at all. It is there for you to use freely, so why this vain search for something outside yourself?
No sooner were these words spoken than the Master received a great illumination and recognised his own mind! Beside himself with joy, he hastened to show his gratitude by prostrating himself again.
- Hui Hai
(720-814)
Chinese Zen master
