18th January

The master rose to give his sermon, but simply stretched
out his arms and remained silent. He was about to leave the
hall when a student asked why he had said nothing.
The master replied, "The scriptures are expounded by the
scripture teachers and the commentaries by the commentators.
Why do you wonder at me? Am I not a Zen Master?"

This text again shows very clearly the consciousness of Zen. This master indicates that people who teach scripture are doing just that. Commentators are doing the same. They are afirming by their very words that there is something to do, something to change or achieve. A Zen master remains silent because there is nothing to say or do.