0. A Philosopher Asks Buddha  

A Philosopher asked Buddha: 
  "Without words, without the wordless, will you tell me truth ?"

The Buddha kept silence.

The philosopher bowed and thanked the Buddha, saying:
  "With your loving kindness I have cleared away my delusions and entered the true path."

After the philosopher had gone, Ananda asked the Buddha what he had attained.

The Buddha replied:
  "A good horse runs even at the shadow of the whip."

Mumon's Comment:

Ananda was the disciple of the Buddha. Even so, his opinion did not surpass that of outsiders. I want to ask you monks: How much difference is there between disciples and outsiders ?

    To tread the sharp edge of a sword
    To run on smooth-frozen ice,
    One needs no footsteps to follow.
    Walk over the cliffs with hands free.