Kinzan, Ganto and Seppo were doing zazen when Tozan came in with the tea. Kinzan shut his eyes. Tozan asked, “Where are you going?”
Kinzan replied, “I am entering dhyana.”
Tozan said, “Dhyana has no gate; how can you enter into it?”

A monk asked Joshu, “What is the way without mistakes?”
Joshu said, “Knowing one’s mind, seeing into one’s nature, is the way without mistakes.”

A monk asked Ganto, “When the three worlds are attacking us, what shall we do?”
“Sit still!” said Ganto.
The monk was surprised and said, “Please explain a little more.”
“Bring me Mount Ro,” said Ganto, “and I will tell you.”

On another occasion, Zuigan asked Ganto, “What is the eternal and fundamental principle of things?”
Ganto replied, “Movement.”
Zuigan asked, “What is this movement?”
Ganto said, “When you see things move, can’t you see this eternal and fundamental principle of things?”
Zuigan was lost in thought, and Ganto said, “If you agree to this, you are still in the dust of this world; if you disagree, you will be always sunk in life-and-death.”

Maneesha, these small anecdotes are small only in size, but in depth, no ocean can compete with them. It is a miracle that in such small dialogues, the greatest of experiences – which are inexpressible – are expressed. Look at this small anecdote:

Kinzan, Ganto and Seppo…

all masters,

…were doing zazen when Tozan came in with the tea.

Zazen, as you know, means simply sitting and doing nothing, not even thinking – because thinking is also doing – simply not doing anything physical, mental, or spiritual, just being like a flame, unwavering, without any wind around.

…Tozan came in with the tea. Kinzan shut his eyes. Tozan asked, “Where are you going?”

Do you see the point? By closing your eyes, certainly you are going inward, but where exactly? – because just the word inward is not indicative of any destination. The inwardness is as vast as outwardness.

“Where are you going?”
Kinzan replied, “I am entering dhyana”

Meditation.