Quote by Stephen Batchelor

We took a bus to the nearby monastery of one of the last great Tang dynasty Chan masters, Yun-men. Yun-men was known for his pithy one word Zen. When asked What is the highest teaching of the Buddha? he replied: An appropriate statement. On another occasion, he answered: Cake. I admired his directness.

We took a bus to the nearby monastery of one of the last gre

Summary

This quote highlights the teachings and approach of the Chan master, Yun-men, during the Tang dynasty. He was renowned for his concise and direct style of Zen. In response to questions about the highest teaching of the Buddha, he used simple yet profound answers such as "An appropriate statement" and "Cake." Yun-men's directness and ability to express profound truths using minimal words are admired in this quote.

Topics

Funny Inspirational Humour Buddhism Zen

By Stephen Batchelor

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