A student asked his Zen master, “What is the Gateless Gate?”
The master replied, “It is the gate you must pass through without passing through.”
Puzzled, the student asked, “How can one enter without passing through?”
The master smiled and said, “When you realize there is no gate and no one to enter, you have passed through.”
Anonymous
This koan challenges our concept of duality and invites us to go beyond conventional thinking. It encourages us to let go of our attachment to fixed ideas and labels, and to explore the nature of existence beyond our conditioned perceptions. The gateless gate represents the boundless potential of our own awareness, and the realization that true liberation comes when we transcend the limitations of dualistic thinking.
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The Ultimate Truth
of Total Liberation
A young student asked their master, “What is the ultimate truth?”
The master replied, “The ultimate truth is beyond words and concepts, beyond mind and matter, beyond time and space. It is the truth of total liberation from all defilements, all impurities, all suffering. It is the final goal of everyone.”
Garden of serenity
In a secluded valley, two monks tended a garden that flourished with vibrant colors and fragrances, a testament to their peaceful coexistence.
One day, a weary traveler sought refuge among them, curious about the secret to their harmonious living. “How do you cultivate this garden of serenity, both in the soil and in your souls?” he asked.
Yearning for calm
In a village of endless storms, a seeker approached a wise sage, yearning for calm within the tempests of life.
The sage, perched on a rock, whispered, “Listen closely to the melody of rain, the chorus of the wind. As they ebb and flow, so do our hearts.”