A Ch’an story tells of how two adepts, one of the Ch’an school, the other of a different school, meet along a river. The adept of the other school says that his master possesses extraordinary powers. Seated on one side of the river, this master can draw in the air the marks printed on a piece of paper that one of his disciples is holding on the other side of the river. “And your master, of what marvels is he capable?” “My master is a great magician,” answers the Ch’an adept. “When he is thirsty, he drinks; when he is hungry, he eats; when he is tired, he goes to bed.” This is the kind of elegy
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