公案5 : 打車打牛
開元中有沙門道一[1]，在衡嶽山常習坐禪，懷讓禪師往問曰：「大德坐禪，圖什麼？」
一曰：「圖作佛！」
師乃取一磚，於彼庵前石上磨。
一曰：「磨磚作麼？」
禪師曰：「磨作鏡！」
一曰：「磨磚豈得成鏡耶？」
師曰：「磨磚既不成鏡，坐禪豈得作佛耶？」
一曰：「如何即是？」
師曰：「如牛駕車，車不行，打車即是？打牛即是？[2]」
一無對。
[1] 馬祖道一是有名的禪宗六祖慧能徒孫，懷讓禪師高足。這篇在<景德傳燈錄>是有名的禪門南宗傳心公案。
[2] 這篇公案內容樸實，寓意顯白，但並非沒有禪理。乍看下似乎很容易理會，不過如果仔細去想想，牛何其無辜，車不走或許不是牛的錯，也許是車輪不行。許多人以為學習坐禪還可以預防保健，強神保健，試問這樣是在打牛還是打車呢？
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Case #5 : Whipping The Ox or The Cart
Once a pond the time, a young Buddhist monk was practicing meditation everyday in a Buddhist temple, a Zen master passed by and asked him : “Why do you meditate, my young friend?”
Young Buddhist monk answered : “I’m trying to become Buddha.”
The Zen master did not replied, but took a brick on the floor. And then, he started to polish it with a rock in front of the young monk.
The young monk was curious, and asked : “Why are you polishing that brick, Zen master?”
The Zen master answered : “In order to make it as shinning as a mirror.”
The young monk gasped : “How could that be possible?”
Zen master : “If you don’t think a brick can be polished into a mirror, why do you think it’s possible to become Buddha by just meditating?”
Young monk : “If so, what should I do?”
Zen master : “When you are driving an oxcart, if the ox won’t go further, do you whip the ox or the cart?[1]”
The young Buddhist monk pondered.
[1] This is probably one of the famous and yet easily understanding case. When people talk about Zen absorption or meditation, they tend to think of it as a magic pill. However, meditation is just a technique, it can help you calm your mind, and have a better understanding of your true feelings. It’s not the physical practicing doesn’t matters, you still need to understand the true meaning of Buddha is a way of looking the world, and looking oneself. Or it’s just an exercise like any others.
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