Someone asked a Zen master: “What is your approach to Zen practice?”
He replied:
“When hungry, I eat; when tired, I sleep — that is my way. I never eat when not hungry, nor fast when hungry — that is my way!”
The questioner said: “But this seems ordinary — we all do this!”
The master laughed:
“If you truly did, you wouldn’t seek me. You either overeat or undereat. The mind invents reasons to suffer.”
Philosophical Notes:
Ordinary Acts as Ultimate Practice:
The master’s “eat/sleep” approach embodies Chan’s core: Awakening lies not in special rituals, but in total presence with daily life.
Truth is profoundly simple. By fully attending to ordinary acts, we embrace the highest wisdom.
Mind as Suffering’s Architect:
The laughter exposes human delusion:
Overeating >> Craving beyond need
Undereating >> Self-denial as ego
Both stem from distorting natural simplicity into mental complexity.
“No Need to Seek Me” as Mirror:
The master’s retort shatters spiritual seeking: If you lived authentically, you’d realize Zen is your untouched original state.
Chan Essence:
“When hungry, eat” means:
Let life flow without commentary — no “shoulds,” no guilt, no second thoughts.
This unmediated suchness is Buddha-nature.
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