One student came to Bokuju. Bowing, he touched his feet and asked:
- How long should I wait for my enlightenment?
Bokuju turned his serene eyes to him and did not look away for a long time.
The student began to worry, he asked again:
- Why are you looking at me so intently and not answering?
The master spoke the Zen answer. He said:
- Kill me!
The student could not believe that this was the answer to his question. Embarrassed and confused, he hurriedly left. He thought about Bokuju's answer for many days, but still could not understand what he told him. In desperation, he turned to a senior student for help.
He laughed and explained:
- Master told you: “Why do you keep asking me”? Leave the Master, leave all questioning. Kill me in yourself, kill my authority. Abandon all teaching. Who am I? I'm not holding you back. Life is equally open to everyone. Why don't you start living? Why do you keep preparing?
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru