The Barrier of Words

Text

Xutang said: "Words are a painted cake that cannot satisfy hunger, yet without words there is no way to point to the moon. The one who clings to words is lost; the one who abandons words is equally lost. Tell me—where do you stand?"

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Attributed To
  Xutang Zhiyu

Lineage: Yangqi line

By Xutang Zhiyu

• The Essence of Chandialogue

From Traditional Zen Sayings

• A Special Transmission Outside the Scriptures
• Thirty Blows
• A Day Without Work Is a Day Without Eating
• Mountains Are Mountains
• Cease and Desist
• Die While Alive
• The Whole Universe Is the Eye
• The Directness of Realization
• The Great Doubt Block
• Not Deceived by Words

Sources

• contentWikisource — English-language free library

  Xutang Heshang Yulu, dharma hall discourse

  Traditional Zen Sayings: The Barrier of Words