Ordinary Mind Is the Way

Text

Zhaozhou asked Nanquan, "What is the Way?" Nanquan said, "Ordinary mind is the Way." Zhaozhou asked, "Should I try to direct myself toward it?" Nanquan said, "If you try to direct yourself toward it, you turn away from it." Zhaozhou asked, "If I do not try, how will I know it is the Way?" Nanquan said, "The Way does not belong to knowing or not-knowing. Knowing is delusion; not-knowing is blankness. If you truly reach the genuine Way, you will find it as vast and boundless as outer space. How can this be discussed at the level of right and wrong?" At these words, Zhaozhou was suddenly awakened.

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Speaker
  Nanquan Puyuan
• Questioner
  Zhaozhou Congshen

Lineage: Nanyue line

By Nanquan Puyuan

• Nansen Cuts the Cat in Twokoan
• It Is Not Mind, It Is Not Buddha, It Is Not Thingskoan
• Learning Is Not The Pathkoan
• Nanquan Kills the Catdialogue
• A Flower in a Dreamdialogue

From Traditional Zen Encounter Dialogues

• My Mind Is Not at Peace
• Thinking of Not-Thinking
• Not Knowing Is Most Intimate
• The Boat Monk's Transmission
• The Sound of Bamboo
• Vast Emptiness, Nothing Holy
• Nanquan Kills the Cat
• Wash Your Bowl
• The Oak Tree in the Garden
• This Very Mind Is Buddha

Sources

• contentWikisource — English-language free library

  Mumonkan Case 19; Jingde Chuandenglu, Nanquan chapter

  Traditional Zen Encounter Dialogues: Ordinary Mind Is the Way