Mumonkan - Case 32: A Philosopher Asks Buddha

A philosopher asked Buddha:
  "Without words, without the wordless, will you you tell me truth?"
The Buddha kept silence. The philosopher bowed and thanked the Buddha,
saying:
  "With your loving kindness I have cleared away my delusions and entered
   the true path."
After the philosopher had gone, Ananda asked the Buddha what he had attained.
The Buddha replied,
  "A good horse runs even at the shadow of the whip."


Mumon's Comment:

Ananda was the disciple of the Buddha. Even so, his opinion did not surpass
that of outsiders. I want to ask you monks: How much difference is there
between disciples and outsiders?

   To tread the sharp edge of a sword
   To run on smooth-frozen ice,
   One needs no footsteps to follow.
   Walk over the cliffs with hands free.
