..续本文上一页 to be rich, but then he realized that many people don”t have enough food to eat. So he gave all of his land to the farmers. He had many precious jewels and other possessions, but he thought, “If I give things away, they”ll only create desire-mind in other people.” So he took a boat out to the middle of a very deep lake and dumped all his priceless possessions overboard. Then he and his daughter went and lived in a cave; meanwhile, his wife and son moved into a very small house. Sometimes the Pangs would visit Zen temples to have dharma combat with the monks. They had a very simple life, and practiced very hard.

　　“One day, someone asked Layman Pang, “Is Zen difficult or easy

　　”

　　“He replied, “It”s like trying to hit the moon with a stick. Very difficult!”

　　“Then this man thought, “Oh, Zen is very difficult.” So he asked Layman Pang”s wife, “Your husband said Zen is difficult. I ask you, then, is Zen difficult or easy

　　”

　　“She said, “Oh, Zen is very easy! It”s like touching your nose when you wash your face in the morning!”

　　“The man could not understand. He thought to himself, “Hmmm … Layman Pang says Zen is difficult; his wife says it is very easy. Which one is correct

　　” So he went to their son and said, “Your father said Zen is very difficult; your mother said it is very easy. Which one is correct

　　”

　　“The son replied, “If you think it”s difficult, then it”s difficult. If you think it”s easy, then it”s easy. Don”t make difficult and easy!”

　　“But the man was still not satisfied, so he went to the daughter. “Everyone in your whole family has a different answer to my question. Your mother said Zen is easy. Your father said Zen is difficult. And your brother said don”t make difficult and easy. So I ask you, is Zen difficult or easy

　　”

　　““Go drink tea.””

　　Seung Sahn Sunim looked at the student who asked the question and said, “So, go drink tea, OK

　　 Don”t make “difficult.” Don”t make “easy.” Don”t make anything. From moment to moment, just do it!”

　　Tollbooth Bodhisattva

　　One afternoon, Zen Master Seung Sahn and several of his students were driving down Route I-95, from Providence, Rhode Island, to New York City. They chatted from time to time as they drove, with the students asking him questions about various things. At one point they stopped at a tollbooth. The driver handed the tollbooth operator some money, and was waiting for his change. One of the students said to her through the open window, “Nice day, isn”t it

　　”

　　“Yes,” she replied. “But, my goodness, where did all this wind come from

　　” After she gave them their change, they drove off.

　　The car was quiet for several miles. Then Zen Master Seung Sahn turned to his students and said, “That was no ordinary woman at the tollbooth. That was Kwan Seum Bosal [the bodhisattva of compassion] asking you a great question: “Where did all this wind come from

　　” What a wonderful koan! You must always be alert to the teaching that comes your way, all the time. Let go of your mind and then you can see what”s actually in front of you. So I ask you, where did all this wind come from

　　”

　　No one could answer.

　　“OK. I”ll give you a hint. Zen Master Man Gong wrote a poem that will help you:

　　Everything is born by following the wind;

　　 everything dies by following the wind.

　　When you find out where the wind comes from,

　　there is no life, no death.

　　When you have an answer “like-this,”

　　You see nature through spiritual eyes.”

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