A BRIEF WORD WITH TAO-MING

A monk said to his master, "We are always putting on and taking off our clothes, and eating our food. Is there any way of avoiding this?"

Tao-ming said, "By putting on and taking off our clothes, and by eating our food."

The monk said, "I don't understand."

The master said, "Not understanding is wearing clothes and eating food."

Tao-ming (780 - 877) lived in one temple or another all located in southern China near Macao. He was a disciple of renowned master Huang Po. As was common of the time, he was known by several names: Bokushu, Reverend Chen, Tao-tsung, Muchou.