Koan Study: The Trip

Once, Master Li had trekked up through the mountains to visit another teacher. It had been near blizzard like conditions, wind and heavy snow during the trip. The conditions made it impossible to sleep and the trip was pure misery. As he trudged toward his cabin after finally arriving back at the temple, a new student came up to him and brusquely asked, “Master, what is death?” Master Li sighed and said “I must go to my cabin and change out of my heavy clothes. If you wait here a moment, I will show you personally what death is.” The student bowed and sprinted back to his hut.