The emperor, wanting to see Nan-In, came to the monastery. Having met a woodcutter there chopping wood, he asked:
— The monastery is big, where can I find Teacher Nan-In?
The man thought for a few moments with his eyes closed and said:
- Right now you can't find him.
The Emperor said:
- Why can't I find him now? Has he left?
“No, he’s here,” answered the woodcutter.
The Emperor said:
- Is he busy with some urgent matter? Some kind of ceremony? Or retired?
The man said:
“He’s chopping wood in front of you right now.” And when I chop wood, I am a woodcutter. Teacher Nan-In is not here right now, you will have to wait. Please go into the room.
The Emperor, not knowing what to think or how to react, walked forward.
After some time, Nan-In came out to him in the attire of the Master. The emperor bowed to him, although he recognized him as a woodcutter. Nan-In asked:
- How can I be useful?
The Emperor replied:
“I have a lot of questions, but first I would like to clarify: are you the same person who chopped the wood?”
Nan-In replied:
“I’m not the same person: the whole configuration has changed.” A woodcutter was chopping wood, his name is also Nan-In. He is very similar to the Teacher, but after all, it was not Teacher Nan-In who chopped the wood.
Returning to the palace, the emperor asked his advisor:
- How to understand this?
The courtier replied:
“When he chops wood, he is completely involved in it, there is nothing left that can be called Teacher Nan-In.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru