Dharma Sister Chen Chuanfang once joked that life in a nutshell is nothing more than the following:

At age one – the grand entrance.
At age 10 – school is everything.
At age 20 – rising libido.
At age 30 – scouring the job market.
At age 40 – becoming mildly overweight.
At age 50 – still going strong.
At age 60 – blood pressure shooting up.
At age 70 – often forgetful.
At age 80 – wavering and faltering.
At age 90 – being lost all the time.
At age 100 – just a portrait on the wall.

On hearing the above we can recognize that life is roughly like this.  Perhaps it is not exact, but neither is it too far off.  These phases are the reality of life.
However, besides these, should we ever consider what else is missing?

If these phases capture the gist of life, have we ever pondered whether life holds a deeper meaning?

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A monk once asked Zen Master Linggong of Xichuan an interesting question, “How do Buddhas come about?”

Zen Master Linggong replied, “It matters not how Buddhas originate; but how the grass turns green when spring beckons.”

The monk continued, “Well then, how should one handle the ups and downs of life?”

Zen Master Linggong replied, “Look closer...”

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Another monk asked Zen Master Duanji of Mount Zige in the Jingzhao Prefecture, “If the Four Forms are extinct, what then should we regard as the truth?”

Zen Master Duanji countered, “Where did you come from and go to?”

The monk persisted, “What happens when the Wei River flows eastward?”

And Zen Master Duanji replied, “It has never ceased.”

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Two great Zen Masters, both from the Dharma lineage of Zen Master Qingfeng, have already answered the query about “the Gist of Life” for us.

Why don’t we take a step further and delve more deeply into the meaning of life?

Where do we come from?

Where are we going?

How do Buddhas come about?

Let us contemplate these questions!

And if we were to banish the Four Forms, what should we then regard as the truth? We should really think hard about this one.

Here is a hint for you all: “In order to look closer, you can definitely use help from Grand Master Lu!”

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Poem: A Step Further

Nothing in life is out of the ordinary
On adding up every experience
The end is always the same
Whether there be pain
Whether there be frost
The road will always be as long
So why not take a step further
To ponder the meaning of the Zen!