The Staff: The Doctrine that Transcends

The Reading:

Asked by a monk, "What is the doctrine that transcends all Buddhas and Masters?" Ummon immediately held aloft his staff, and said, "I call this a staff, what do you call it?"  The monk was silent.  Again Ummon held up the staff, saying, "The doctrine transcending the teachings of all the Buddhas and masters - was not that what you asked me about?"  The monk was still silent.

Mumonkan, Blyth, P.126

Discussion:

When I say that Ummon is the greatest Zen Master, I mean only that of the fools he was the most ridiculous.