Raised: Zǐhú asked Iron Grindstone Liú, “For a long time, I’ve been favorably inclined to ‘Iron Grindstone Liú.’ Is there someone for whom this [name] would be suitable or not?”
Grindstone said, “I won’t go there.”
Hú said, “Turn left, turn right.”
Grindstone said, “Venerable, is there someone who would go upside down?”
Hú then hit her.
[Xūtáng’s] alternate saying for Iron Grindstone Liú: “Not knowing, rely on meeting an outsider.”
Hakuin said, “Where the darkness and the light do not reach, there
is a good view.”
is a good view.”
Sometimes in our lives everything is simply confusing -- there is no way
out using the rational mind. Iron Grinder and her friend Hú live in the
world where ordinary and empty exist completely entwined, so that there
is no way to live without the other side. In times of darkness, we dwell
in the darkness. In times of clarity we dwell in clarity. But the way is
beyond these opposites, as Hakuin kindly points out. Through sincere
practice, we can find our good view beyond dualistic ideas of
left and right, dark and light, this and that. Everything that is
happening may seem upside down, but really, when we see clearly,
it is just right. Words can't do it, so sometimes the only response
is a hit. Or a warm smile of recognition and the direct meeting
that is possible between people of the Way.
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