Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘A monk asked Lung-ya: “What did old masters attain when they entered the ultimate stage?” He replied, “They were like burglars sneaking into an empty house.”‘

I think I first heard this phrase from Shohaku Okumura, who talked about his dharma grand-father Kodo Sawaki using it regularly. It is a compelling image which rings true, and is a wonderful companion to his phrase about zazen being good for nothing. Whatever effort you have to make, in the end it is wasted, because you find no there there.