If you can act in all situations without attachment, and without a purpose or motive, that itself is realizing the true nature of phenomena. Doing something without attachment is described by the Chinese term wu-wei, which means non-action. It does not mean doing nothing, or being apathetic and lazy. Wu-wei means action that is not done for the sake of the self, or with an ulterior motive in mind, or with deliberation. Wu-wei is action that is non-deliberate. It is action that does not emanate from self-centeredness. If you can act in this unattached manner, without deliberation or motives, then you can truly enter the gate of Ch'an.

If you have the proper attitude or true spirit of Ch'an practice, then you should give your full attention to whatever you are doing, and you should do things to the best of your ability. Do not think about the past. Do not think about the future. Just focus on the present.

From our point of view, Buddha must have infinite wisdom and merit in order to save innumerable sentient beings. Actually, the Buddha has no wisdom, and he attains no merit from good deeds or blessings. If he still has wisdom and merit, then he is not a Buddha. It is we, not he, who say that the Buddha has wisdom.

When someone does something wrong, you might think, "How dumb! That person has no wisdom." You see a fly beating against a window trying to get out of your house. You open the window, but it just flies back and forth. You think, "How stupid!" If the Buddha has wisdom, then what does he see as being stupid? Do you think the Buddha would say, "What a stupid fly!" Compared to the Buddha, everything is stupid, but that is our point of view. Likewise, the Buddha does not perceive wisdom. Wisdom can only exist in relation to ignorance. In enlightenment there is no discrimination.