Bright, Bright

As Layman P'ang was sitting one day, he questioned his daughter, Ling-chao, saying: "A man of old said: 'Bright, bright, the hundred grass-tips; bright, bright, the Patriarch's meaning.' How do you understand this?"

"What a thing for you to say in your ripe old age!" admonished Ling-chao.

"Well, what would you say?" asked the Layman.

"Bright, bright, the hundred grass-tips; bright, bright, the Patriarch's meaning," replied Ling-chao.

The Layman laughed.

Commentary

There was never a dull moment in the P'ang family. But what would you say if Layman P'ang asked you?

Source: The Recorded Sayings of Layman P'ang by Ruth Fuller Sasaki

Photo by Cobalt