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No Place It Does Not Reach

June 6, 2022 | Posted by webmaster | kempe, Podcast

Karin Ryuku Kempe takes up this story from Dogen’s Genjo Koan:

Zen master Baoche of Mt. Mayu was fanning himself. A monk approached and said, “Master, the nature of wind is permanent and there is no place it does not reach. Why, then, do you fan yourself?”

“Although you understand that the nature of the wind is permanent,” Baoche replied, “you do not understand the meaning of its reaching everywhere.”

“What is the meaning of its reaching everywhere?” asked the monk again. The master just kept fanning himself. The monk bowed deeply.

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