Teaching people enlightenment is useless, because how can you teach No-Thing? You can only teach something. The middle point guides you to disconnect from all some-things; and in the removal of some-thing-ness, you are left with no-thing-ness, which is the primordial source of All-That-Is.

A disciple came to the master and asked for his blessing. The master said to him, “I will bless you when you write down all you understand about the religious life and what has brought you to it.”

The disciple went away and began to write. A year later, he came back to the master and said, “It has been a challenging year trying to understand the religious life and my own struggle to live it.”

The master read many thousands of words and said, “I can see your point and your reasons. You are very eloquent and clear in explaining your way, but it is too long. Go and try to shorten it a little.”

A Zen student came to his master and said, “In what state should I seek the Truth?” The master replied, “There is no mind, so you cannot put it in any state; and there is no truth, so you cannot seek it.” The student was puzzled, “If there is no mind and no truth why do these students gather around you to study?” The master looked around and said, “I don’t see anyone.” The student asked, “Then who are you teaching?” “I don’t have a mouth, so how can I teach?” The student said sadly, “I cannot be your student; I cannot understand. The master replied, “I don’t understand myself.”

What is the mind? There is no mind, only thoughts.

Are thoughts the mind? No. Thoughts are the cause.

Then what is the mind beyond thoughts? There is no mind beyond thoughts.