The Koan for November
Normal Heart-Mind
The visitor asked, “What is the Tao like?”
The teacher answered, “Normal heart-mind is the Tao.”
“Shall I reach toward it?” asked the visitor
“Reaching toward is immediately pushing away,” said the teacher.
“Without reaching toward it, how will I know it to be Tao?” asked the visitor.
The teacher answered, “Tao isn’t understanding or not understanding. Understanding is delusion, not understanding is apathy. When you truly reach the Tao with no intentions, it’s like very spacious emptiness, but entirely generous. How can it be made to be right or wrong?”
The visitor had an epiphany.
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Teacher
Rachel Boughton
Rachel Boughton is a Zen Roshi. She's a feminist, artist, writer, and meditation and koan teacher. She is also a Jungian Analyst in training.
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