Wuxue's "Moon in Water"
A monk asked Master Wuxue, "
How is it when the clear mirror is on its stand?"
Wuxue replied,
"The sky is high, and the earth is thick."
The monk then asked,
"How is it when the clear mirror is not on its stand?"
Wuxue said,
"A monkey grasps at the moon in the water."
Reflection
Wuxue's 'Moon in Water' koan uses the image of a monkey grasping at a reflection to illustrate the futility of seeking enlightenment as an external object. The moon in water appears real but cannot be held. The clear mirror without a stand represents the mind that has let go of all supports and concepts, leaving no place for grasping.