-- The Original Face --

The monk Hui-ming was one of those who were running after Hui-neng - the Sixth Patriarch of Zen in China - for the robe and bowl that had come down from the Buddha Himself, they were the symbols of Buddha Dharma transmission in Zen tradition. When he caught up Hui-neng, he realized that the ultimate things are not the robe and bowl, but something else. He said, "Venerable Sir, I came for the Dharma (teaching), not for the robe and bowl."
Hui-neng then said, "Since you have come here for the Dharma, you should shut out all objects and not conceive a single thought, then I will expound the Dharma for you."
Hui-ming was silent for a long while. Hui-neng said, "When you do not think of good and do not think of bad, what is your original face?"
At these words, Hui-ming had a deep insight. Then he asked, "You have given me the secret words and meanings. Is there yet a deeper part of the teaching?"
Hui-neng said,"What I have told you is no secret. If you reflect inwardly, the secret is in you."