Nansen and Joshu teamed up for some of the best stories in Zen literature. I’ve seen this exchange many times, but this particular translation comes from the book, Making Zen Your Own.
If you can't see the image for some reason, here are the words:
Joshu once asked master Nansen, “What is the Way?”
“Ordinary mind is the way,” Nansen replied.
“Then should I direct myself toward it or not?”
“If you try to turn toward it, you go against it.”
“If I do not try to turn toward it, how can I know it is the Way?”
“The Way does not belong to knowing or not-knowing. Knowing is delusion; not-knowing is a blank consciousness. When you have really reached the true Way beyond all doubt, you will find it as vast and boundless as the great empty firmament. How can it be talked about on the level of right or wrong?”
At these words Joshu was enlightened.
