禅Seosan Hyujeong

proverb

An Empty Temple

Joseon

Traditionally attributed

Text

An empty temple is not a failed temple. The bell still rings on the empty hour, and the monks on the road carry the temple inside their robes.

tr. Zen Lineage editorial

license: cc_by

Attribution

Lineage: Seon

By Seosan Hyujeong

Sources

  • contentThe Zen Monastic Experience — Robert E. Buswell

    Robert E. Buswell Jr.

    pp. 21–58

No per-field confidence has been recorded for this teaching yet. Treat individual claims with the caution appropriate to the source list below.

Attribution status: traditional — see editorial policy for what this means.

1 supporting citation on record (see Sources above).

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