Blue Cliff Record, Case 55:
Daowu's Condolence Call

The question that all religious traditions must address is the nature of life and death. This poignant koan goes to the heart of the matter by showing that our dualistic interpretations are far from the essence of what we call life and death. Ryushin Sensei brings out this all-important matter, as well as what it means to study with a teacher, what it means to practice, and most importantly, how to do so wholeheartedly. Photo by Enrico Pinzino Nunziati