唐朝的龍潭崇信禪師跟隨天皇道悟禪師出家後，數年之中，打柴炊爨，挑水作羹，卻不曾得到道悟禪師一句半語的法要。一天，他向師父說：「師父！弟子隨您出家多年，可是一次也不曾得到您的開示，請師父慈悲，傳授弟子修道法要吧！」
道悟禪師聽後立刻回答：「你冤枉師父啊！你想想看，自從你跟隨我出家以來，我未嘗一日不傳授你修道的心要。」崇信訝異地問：「弟子愚笨，不知您傳授給我什麼？」。道悟禪師：「你端茶給我，我為你喝；你捧飯給我，我為你吃；你向我合掌，我就向你點頭，這不都在指示心要給你嗎？我何嘗一日懈怠呀！」崇信禪師聽了，頓然開悟。
從這一則師徒問答之中，可以瞭解禪就是生活。日常生活的搬柴運水，喝茶吃飯，無不蘊藏無限的禪機。

Chan Master Longtan Chongxin became a monk under Chan Master Tianhuang Daowu. For several years, he chopped wood and cooked, and carried water to make soup, but received not a word of Dharma instruction from Daowu. One day, he said, “Master, for many years I have been a monk under you. Yet not once have you instructed me. Please have compassion and teach me the Dharma so I can cultivate the Way.” Daowu answered, “You do your master a grave injustice. Think. Since you came here, not a day has passed that I did not transmit to you the cultivation of the Way.”
“Your disciple is stupid and does not know what you have taught him,” replied Chongxin.
“When you bring me tea, I drink it for your sake. When you bring me food, I eat it for your sake. When you join palms to show me respect, I nod to you. Where have I been remiss? Have I not instructed you in the essentials all along?”
Hearing this, Chan Master Chongxin immediately awakened.
This exchange between master and disciple shows us that Chan is not different from daily life. Gathering wood, carrying water, drinking tea, or eating – every activity we perform is rich with the boundless subtleties of Chan.

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