In Song Dynasty, Su Dongpo went to Jinshan Temple to have Chan meditation with Master Foyin and he felt so happy that he asked Master Foyin,” Master, how do you feel the sitting posture of mine?”

 

"Very holy, you look like a Buddha.” Master said.

 

Su Dongpo was very happy to hear that. And then, Master Foyin asked,” Scholar, what’s your feeling of my sitting posture?”

 

Su Dongpo would never give up any chance to mock Master, so he immediately answered,” You look like a pile of cow manure.”

 

Master Foyin also felt very delighted. As Master didn’t say anything anymore, Su Dongpo thought he had defeated Master, so he told everyone he met that he had won the debate with Master Foyin.

 

When his sister Su Xiaomei heard this news, she asked her brother,” How did you win Master Foyin?” Su Dongpo proudly told everything to his sister. His sister was very clever. After hearing that, she said,” Brother, you didn’t win. Master thought you were Buddha, because his heart was full of Buddha. You thought that Master was a pile of cow manure, because your heart was like a pile of cow manure.”

 

Su Dongpo suddenly realized how foolish he was!　

　　　

Chan Buddhism is perception instead of knowledge. Chan Buddhism is wisdom instead of argument. Don’t doubt Masters’ wisdom and knowledge, sometimes Masters can enlighten people without speaking a single word.