Ummon's Lecture on Belief

The Reading:

Ummon held up his staff, and said, "We are told in the scriptures that an ordinary man thinks the staff is real existence; that those of the Hinayana take it as nothing; that those believing in the pratyekabuddha take it as an illusory existence; that bodhisattvas say its reality is emptiness. But I say unto you, take the staff as just a staff; movement is movement; sitting is sitting, but don't wabble under any circumstances!"

Zen and Zen Classics, Volume Two, Chapter 16

R.H. Blyth

The discussion:

Ummon has served the dessert first. The meal is over.