There was once a great Zen master named Pop An Mun Ik (Fa-yen Wen-i). He founded many temples, gave the Transmission to sixty-three of his disciples, and was the first patriarch of the Pop An school of Zen.
When Mun Ik was a student under Master Na Han, he was known for his phenomenal memory. He could recite many sutras word for word. He had also meditated a great deal, and his mind had become clear. He used to say to those who asked him about the Truth, 'All the three worlds, all Dharmas, and all Buddhas are made by the mind alone.'''
At this time in China, there were many wandering monks, who had freed themselves from all attachments and would travel from monastery to monastery and from master to master, like clouds across the empty sky. They were without hinderance.
Mun Ik had been admiring these monks and their way of life for some time. One day he decided to do as they did. He went to Na Han and said, "I've come to say good-bye, Master. I'm going to live the life of no hinderance from now on. So tomorrow I'll be leaving you.''
The master raised his eyebrows a tiny bit and said, "Fine, if you think you're ready.''
Mun Ik said, "Oh, I'm ready all right.''
"Well," said the master, "let me test you, just to make sure, You often say that the whole universe is made by the mind alone. Look over there in the garden. Do you see those large rocks? Now tell me -- are they inside your mind or outside it?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Mun Ik answered, "There is no truth outside the mind; all things are inside it.''
The master chuckled and said, "You'd better go get a good night's sleep. it's going to be heavy traveling tomorrow, with all those rocks in your mind.''
Mun Ik flushed with embarrassment and confusion, and looked down at the ground.
After a few moments, the master said, "When you try to understand, you are like a man dreaming that he can see. The truth is right in front of you. It is alive, and infinitely great. How can human words contain it?''
Realizing his mistake, Mun Ik bowed and said, "Please, Master, teach me."
The master said, "All right, listen. Now you don't know what the truth is. This not-knowing is the earth, the sun, the stars and the whole universe."
As soon as Mun Ik heard these words, his mind shot open. He bowed deeply and said, "Ah, Master, what else is ready now?''
Suddenly the master shouted, "Mun Ik!"
Mun Ik shouted backs "Yes!"
"Very good," said the master. "Now that you are ready, you may go.''
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