Koan of the Week

"Venerable Yanyang asked Zhaozhou, 'When not a single thing is brought, then what?'
"Zhaozhou said, 'Put it down.'
"Yanyang said, 'If I don't bring a single thing, what should I put down?'
"Zhaozhou said, 'Then carry it out.'"
from the Book of Serenity, tr. Thomas Cleary

Master Li Kim's Commentary: Well he's got a point. If you don't put it down, you have to carry it out.

Seriously, though, some ancient commentators propose that "it" is emotion. Emotion obstructs enlightenment. If you do not bring emotion in with you, you do not need to put it down or carry it out in order to become enlightened. Zhaozhou is, therefore, being somewhat sarcastic in his absurd suggestions.

Master Li Kim's Haiku:

When rage fills your mind
Darkness fills your field of view.
The light hides from you.