... a ZEN story...

Life and Death – In this intriguing Zen Story, Jingxuan walks out on his own master when he refuses to answer his question about life and death. Find out how the same question leads him to his own enlightenment, much later.

Jingxuan and his master Liaoyi went to pay their respects to the family of a deceased friend.

Jingxuan asked his master, “Is he alive or dead?”

The master said, “You cannot say he is alive and you cannot say he is dead.”

Jingxuan asked, “Why cannot you say it?

Liaoyi said, “If you cannot say it, you cannot say it.”

Jingxuan got furious, “You better say it or I will hit you!”

Liaoyi said, “If you are going to hit me, hit me. I still won't say it.”

Jingxuan asked, “What kind of teacher are you? You know and yet you won't tell your disciple.”

Jingxuan hit the master and left. “If you won't say it, just forget it, that’s all.”

After some time, Liaoyi passed away. Jingxuan sought out another teacher named Liangshan and asked him the same question.

Liangshan responded, “You cannot say he is alive and you cannot say he is dead.”

Upon hearing this, Jingxuan got enlightened.