The Question of Life and Death
Dharma Discourse by John Daido Loori Roshi
John Daido Loori Roshi (1931-2009) was the abbot of Zen Mountain
When Master Guishan was studying under Baizhang, he worked as a tenzo at the monastery. Baizhang wanted to choose an abbot for Dayi Monastery. He told the head monk and all the rest of his disciples to make their Zen presentations, and the ablest one would be sent to found the monastery. Then Baizhang took a pitcher, placed it on the floor and asked the question: “This must not be called a pitcher. What do you call it?” The head monk said, “It cannot be called a wooden sandal.” Baizhang then asked Guishan. Guishan walked up, kicked over the pitcher, and left. Baizhang said, “The head monk has been defeated by Guishan.” So Guishan was ordered to start the monastery.
Mountains, rivers, and the Great Earth
are not seen in a mirror.
Reason exhausted, ideas and opinions forgotten—
what is it that remains for comparison?