Qingliao's "Silent Thunder"
A monk asked Master Qingliao, "
The voices of all the buddhas are the voice of the Dharma.
What is the voice of the Dharma?"
Qingliao replied,
"The rice in the bowl, the water in the bucket."
Reflection
Qingliao's reply 'The rice in the bowl, the water in the bucket' answers the question about the voice of Dharma with the most ordinary objects. The ultimate teaching is not a sound or concept but the immediate experience of eating and drinking. The Dharma is as close as the next meal – no secret teaching apart from the fullness of each moment.