Mazu's "Mind is Buddha"

A monk asked Mazu, " What is Buddha?" Mazu replied, "Mind is Buddha." Later, the same monk asked again, "What is Buddha?" Mazu said, "No mind, no Buddha."

Reflection

Mazu's two answers – 'Mind is Buddha' and 'No mind, no Buddha' – are a classic one-two punch of Zen teaching. The first affirmation gives the student something to hold; the second negation takes it away. The progression prevents attachment to any formulation. The true teaching is in the movement between the two, not in either statement alone.