Zen Has No Realms, Yet It Exists in All Realms

A monk asked Zhaozhou: "How does one practice Chan to attain enlightenment?" The centenarian Zhaozhou, as if pressed by urgent business, said: "I'm sorry, I cannot tell you now, for I have an urgent need to relieve myself." Then Zhaozhou walked out, but suddenly stopped and said to the monk: "Though I am old and people call me an ancient Buddha, even this small matter of relieving myself must be done personally; no one can do it for me." Upon hearing this, the monk experienced great enlightenment.

The monk inquired about practicing Chan to attain enlightenment. As soon as old Zhaozhou heard this, he personally manifested Chan, showing the monk where to realize enlightenment and where the eighth consciousness resides. The moment the monk finished speaking, Zhaozhou began to manifest the state of Chan everywhere, demonstrating where Chan is and how it functions. Thus, we should understand who accomplishes all matters, great and small, in worldly affairs—who does what, who does not, and how it is done. We should also realize that all phenomena are indeed illusory and unreal, like a dream. Upon hearing this, the wise comprehend thoroughly; why say Chan is a state? What state does Chan have? Chan is not a state, yet within all states, Chan is indeed present and inseparable from them, thus states exist.

Nanquan often manifested the eighth consciousness; otherwise, he would not have been able to cut the cat. Moreover, after Zhaozhou heard about Nanquan cutting the cat, he took off his shoes, placed them on his head, and walked out—this too was a manifestation. Seeing this, Nanquan greatly praised him, saying: "Had you been present, you would have manifested the act of cutting the cat in my place, and I would not have needed to cut it."