An elephant treads a wide path, just as a great practitioner is broad-minded. Ordinary people are like the rabbit that scampers along a narrow path and hides in its burrow. The rabbit thinks the elephant is clumsy because it cannot walk down the narrow track, and claims the elephant has no social graces because it cannot fit inside its burrow.

A person who has never left a windowless house has no idea what the sky looks like. If he bores a small hole in the wall and peers through a hollow reed to examine the sky, he will conclude with certainty that the sky is a little round patch of blue. If you tell him about the sun and moon, clouds and rainbows, stars and galaxies, he will think you are crazy. Again, do not depend on your limited awareness to judge the actions of great practitioners.

On the other hand, although it is all right if a Ch'an master seems eccentric or outlandish to you, he should not feel that he is free to do anything he wants. Only under extraordinary circumstances should he use special methods to teach his students. Extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary methods. But, if he believes he is enlightened and has transcended the precepts and can, therefore, do and say whatever he pleases, he is not a true Ch'an master.

When Kumarajiva went to China in the fourth century of this era, the Chinese emperor thought that such a wise person ought to have descendants, so that his wisdom would carry on. He gave concubines to Kumarajiva, and since they were a royal gift, Kumarajiva had no choice but to accept them. Afterwards, his disciples asked, "Can we have relations with women too?"

Kumarajiva said, "Sure, but first, let me show you something." He took a handful of needles and ate them as easily as if they were noodles. When he finished, he said, "If you can do that, then you can have relations with women."