Deshan's "Blow"
Deshan arrived at Longtan's temple, full of pride in his learning. He questioned Longtan late into the night. "
It is late," said Longtan. "You should retire." Deshan bowed and lifted the door curtain to go.
Seeing the darkness outside, he turned back. "It is dark," he said.
Longtan lit a paper lantern and handed it to him.
Just as Deshan took it, Longtan blew out the flame.
Reflection
Longtan blowing out the lantern as Deshan reaches for it is a sudden teaching on the nature of enlightenment. The light represents conceptual understanding; its extinguishing forces Deshan into the darkness of direct experience. The moment of reaching and the moment of darkness coincide – awakening occurs in the gap between seeking and finding.