Monday, November 14, 2011

Who is the Buddha?

"we come into this world alone,
we depart alone" --
this also is illusion.
i will teach you the way
not to come, not to go!

we eat, excrete, sleep, and get up;
this is our world.
all we have to do after that
is to die.


i shan't die, i shan't go anywhere,
i'll be here;
but don't ask me anything,
i shan't answer.

whatsoever it may be,
it is all part of the world of illusion,
death itself
not being a real thing.

should you wish to know the way
in both this world,
and that other,
ask a man of mercy and sincerity.

a monk asks master pai-chang,
"who is the buddha?"
pai-chang answers,
"who are you?"

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