Buddhism and the flag

The following story has been handed down from the patriarch Hui Neng:

As a young man, he passed by a monastery, and two monks were standing in front of a flagpole, arguing.

One monk said to the other, "The flag is moving."

The other monk replied: "No, the wind is moving".

Here we see how we think, our style, "yes or no", "black or white".

One monk sees the flag moving.

The other monk sees what many people don't see, the wind moving, and therefore the flag moving.

And then came the white Hui Neng, who shouted to the two monks, "No, your spirit is moving"!

Flag, wind or spirit, which is right now?

This is now the right topic to question the ego: "Flag, wind or spirit"?

Beyond "yes" or "no", beyond "black" or "white", beyond the ego!

WHEN THE FLAG FLIES, THE MIND IS IN THE TRUMPET

- RUSSIAN PROVERB –

Copyright: https://shaolin-rainer.de

(Please also download my app "Buddha-Blog English" from the Apple and Android stores)

Please rate us on Apple, Google, or Spotify podcast to help us promote the show