Everyday Life is the Path

Joshu asked Nansen: `What is the path?'

Nansen said: `Everyday life is the path.'

Joshu asked: `Can it be studied?'

Nansen said: `If you try to study, you will be far away from it.'

Joshu asked: `If I do not study, how can I know it is the path?'

Nansen said: `The path does not belong to perception, nor does it belong to nonperception. Cognition is a delusion and noncognition is senseless. If you want to reach the true path, place yourself in the same freedom as sky. You name it neither good nor not-good.'

At these words Joshu was enlightened.