Wisdom Stories: What Is Your Star?

What Is Your Star?

Soon after Chung Gang attained enlightenment at the
age of 22, he went to see Zen Master Mang Gong.

Mang Gong said to him, “Buddha became enlightened
upon seeing the morning star in the eastern sky.
But there are many stars.
What is your star?”

Chung Gang dropped to his hands and knees
and began feeling around the floor.

Mang Gong said,
“Ah, you have truly become a Buddha,”
and gave him Transmission.

from Stephen Mitchell (Editor)
Dropping Ashes on the Buddha:
The Teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn
Grove Press, New York (1976), page 186

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