sitting in a large basket full of victuals.  There are many who thirst in spite of seating themselves on the shore of a sea.”  “Yes, Sir,” replied Huen Sha (Gen-sha), “there are many who starve in spite of putting their heads into the basket full of victuals.  There are many who thirst in spite of putting their heads into the waters of the sea."[FN#262] Who could cheer him up who abandons himself to self-created misery?  Who could save him who denies his own salvation?

[FN#260] The introduction to Anapana-sutra by Khin San Hwui, who came to China A.D. 241.

[FN#261] The Third Patriarch.

[FN#262] Hwui Yuen (E-gen).

11.  Let Go of your Idle Thoughts.[FN#263]

[FN#263] A famous Zenist, Mu-go-koku-shi, is said to have replied to every questioner, saying:  “Let go of your idle thoughts.”

A Brahmin, having troubled himself a long while with reference to the problem of life and of the world, went out to call on Shakya Muni that he might be instructed by the Master.  He got some beautiful flowers to offer them as a present to the Muni, and proceeded to the place where He was addressing his disciples and believers.  No sooner had he come in sight of the Master than he read in his mien the struggles going on within him.  “Let go of that,” said the Muni to the Brahmin, who was going to offer the flowers in both his hands.  He dropped on the ground the flowers in his right hand, but still holding those in his left.  “Let go of that,” demanded the Master, and the Brahmin dropped the flowers in his left hand rather reluctantly.  “Let go of that, I say,” the Muni commanded again; but the Brahmin, having nothing to let go of, asked:  “What shall I let go of, Reverend Sir?  I have nothing in my hands, you know.”  “Let go of that, you have neither in your right nor in your left band, but in the middle.”  Upon these words of the Muni a light came into the sufferer’s mind, and he went home satisfied and in joy.[FN#264] “Not to attach to all things is Dhyana,” writes an ancient Zenist, “and if you understand this, going out, staying in, sitting, and lying are in Dhyana.”  Therefore allow not your mind to be a receptacle for the dust of society, or the ashes of life, or rags and waste paper of the world.  You bear too much burden upon your shoulders with which you have nothing to do.

[FN#264] ‘Sutra on the Brahmacarin Black-family,’ translated into Chinese by K’ Khien, of the Wu dynasty (A.D. 222-280).

Learn the lesson of forgetfulness, and forget all that troubles you, deprives you of sound sleep, and writes wrinkles on your forehead.  Wang Yang Ming, at the age of seventeen or so, is said to have forgotten the day ’on which he was to be married to a handsome young lady, daughter of a man of high position.  It was the afternoon of the very day on which their nuptials had to be held that he went out to take a walk.  Without any definite purpose he went into