Master Ma Tzu, trying to show his students the state of meditation, said:
“If you utter a word, I will give you thirty blows with my stick, but if you don’t say a word, I will give you thirty blows with my stick.” Now speak, speak!
One student came forward and was just going to bow to the Master, but was hit. The student protested:
“I didn’t say a single word, and you didn’t let me say a word.” Why the blow?
The master laughed and said:
“If I wait for you, your speech, your silence... it’s too late.” Life can't wait!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru