history principles practice stories, books, media discussion forum organizations resources
zenguide.com logo
 
Thursday Jul 10 2025 06:49PM ET
º login º register º email º guestbook º printer friendly
grey dot
  One day when Fa-yen Wen-i (885-958), one of the well known Chinese Ch'an masters,
has ascended his seat. From the assembly, a monk came out and asked:
-What is one drop of water from the fount of Tsao-ch'i?
Fa-yen repied:
-It's... continue...

z
.
e
.
n
menu left history menu spacer principles menu spacer practice menu spacer zen media menu spacer discussion forum menu spacer organization directory menu spacer resources  
login
  STORIES, BOOKS & MEDIA
» koans, stories & words   » zen readings   » recommended books   » book reviews   » art & prints   » audio, videos, DVD's
grey dot

EFFORT
Visitor 1:
Like a falling house of cards, effort defeats itself, doesn't it?

CT:
When an effort being made,
Apart from the effort, nowhere else the one who is making the effort can be found.
Apart from him, nowhere else the effort can be found.

Therefore, it might be said:
He is the effort itself, and the effort is himself.
If the effort defeats itself, then it means he defeats himself.

Friends, would you like to come and see:
Someone here is fighting against himself, defeating himself, and winning himself.

What is that man doing?

Visitor 2:
He is knocking over the cards, ending the game.

CT:
Would you think he will resume the game and play it by himself again?

Visitor & CT 10/21/03


 



SUPPORT ZENGUIDE.COM
If you are planning on purchasing any product from amazon.com, you can help us out by using the search box to the right or by clicking on this link to begin shopping.


Purchase posters, art prints, media (music CD & DVD)

buy this ZEN GARDEN
by Lucy Bishop
Puchase this Item
More Art Prints & Media
Zen & Buddhism books
 
 
s
.
t
.
o
.
r
.
i
.
e
.
s
.
,
.

.
b
.
o
.
o
.
k
.
s
.

.
&
.

.
m
.
e
.
d
.
i
.
a
.
Copyright © 1999 - 2025 zenguide.com - All rights reserved. °