The Dharma
In a meeting with his followers on Vulture Peak, the Buddha held up a flower but did not speak.
Conversation
Sometimes we learn by immitating, and sometimes from making mistakes. Sometimes we can learn through conversation, taking a stance, posing a question, and listening to other points of view. At DLZ we encourage transformation through conversation. On the first Monday evening of each month, we sit for 25 minutes with a new koan, and then spend the rest of our service discussing it.
"One day when Dongshan was washing his bowls, he saw two crows fighting over a frog. A monk who was with him asked, 'Why does it come to that?' Dongshan replied, 'It's only for your benefit, Acharya.'" Any thoughts? How about any questions?
Vast Emptiness; Nothing Holy
When Emperor Wu met Bodhidharma, the emperpr asked who he was. Bodhidharma replied "I don't know." To the emperor's question concerning the value of building temples, Bodhidharma said "No merit." And to the question as to the basic concept of Buddhism, he said "Vast emptiness; nothing holy."