You Have To Be Realistic

When it had stopped snowing, Wen-i announced he was going to take his leave. Ch'an master Ti-tsang accompanied him to the temple gate, and said, "Your Honor always explains the Three Worlds of past, present, and future are only mind, and the Ten Thousand Things are only perception."

Then he pointed to a rock, and continued, "What do you say? Is this rock inside the mind or outside the mind?"

Wen-i answered, "Inside the mind."

Ti-tsang then asked, "Why would a mendicant need to travel around with a rock inside his head?"

Wen-i was speechless, and had no way to give an answer.

Ti-tang said, "If you want to discuss the Buddhadharma, you have to be realistic."

Hearing this, Wen-i had a great awakening.