T’ao-ch’ien asked a fellow monk to accompany him on a long journey to help him in his study of Zen. His friend said, “I’ll certainly try to help you in any way I can, but there are some things you must do yourself.”
“What do you mean?” asked T’ao-ch’ien. His friend replied, “Well, my eating and drinking will not fill your stomach. When you want to urinate, there is nothing I can do about it. And only you can make your body walk along the road.” This answer opened T’ao-Ch’iens mind and he made the journey alone.
This student had the perception that Zen has to be imparted through verbal teachings and doctrines. His fellow monk pointed out that living the journey, being a human being doing journey in all its aspects is Zen.
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