The absolute within the subjective Barry Magid March 5th 2016

Two monks, on separate occasions ask their teachers, "What is the meaning of Bodhidharma's coming from the West?" One says "The oak tree in the garden". The other says "Sitting long is tiring". Is this the same answer? We should come to see the landscape of our mind the way we would a park, in a way that we don't problematize it. Oak tree over here, pond over there. Nothing out of place. Completely empty yourself out, and in that place an oak tree is planted. Then there's just this. And that this happens to be an oak tree. At other times, that just this happens to be "Sitting long is tiring".

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