ZEN STORIES

Deshan Xuanjian, a renowned scholar of the Diamond Sutra, traveled south to challenge the Chan teaching. He stopped at a roadside tea stall for refreshment. The old woman running the stall saw his bundles of commentaries and asked, " Venerable monk, what texts are you carrying?" Deshan proudly replied, "Commentaries on the Diamond Sutra." The woman said, "I have a question. If you can answer it, I will give you tea free of charge. If you cannot, you must buy none. The sutra says, 'The past mind cannot be grasped, the present mind cannot be grasped, the future mind cannot be grasped.' Which mind, sir, do you intend to refresh with your tea?" Deshan was utterly speechless. He could not answer. The old woman directed him to seek instruction from the master Longtan. Deshan went to Longtan's monastery, engaged in dialogue, and was deeply enlightened. The next day, he took all his precious commentaries into the Dharma hall, held a torch to them, and burned them completely.