A monk was just ordained. He heard that a Chan (Zen) Master speaks the Dharma with his every word and every action, so decided to pay special attention to how the Master wore his shoes.
The first time, the Master was leaving the Grand Hall. He sat down to put on his shoes.
The second time, the Master was leaving the Meeting Room. He held one hand onto the wall and put on his shoes with the other hand.
The third time, the Master walked his shoes
in place as he left the Chan Hall.
Observing a different way every time, the monk could not catch the meaning
in the actions.
One day the monk was reading the Diamond Sutra, and when he came to the beginning passage, "Putting on his robe and holding the bowl, (the Buddha) walked into Sravasti to beg for food," he suddenly came to a realization: observe not how the Master puts on his shoes, but how his mind is when he puts on his shoes.
穿鞋法門
一位法師剛出家時，
聽人說：禪宗祖師的一言一行都在說法，
於是就很注意和尚穿鞋。
第一次，
和尚離開大壇場，
坐下來穿鞋。
第二次，
和尚從會議室出來，
站立著一手扶牆壁，另一手穿鞋。
第三次，
和尚從小禪堂出來，
走著走著已經把鞋子穿好了。
每次皆不同，
觀察幾次下來，不得要領。
一日，看金剛經，
至「著衣持缽，入舍衛大城乞食」，
忽爾恍然：
不是要看和尚如何穿鞋，
而是，
穿鞋時，這念心是如何。
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