Shishuang's "Nothing is Concealed"

Main Case
Zen master Qingzhu of Mount Shishuang was once asked by a monastic, "It is heard three thousand li away that Shishuang has 'this not turning back to look'."1

Shishuang said, "Right."2

The monastic said, "Myriad things are evident.3 Do you reflect or not reflect on this?"4

Shishuang said, "If I answer, it won't startle the assembly."5

The monastic said, "Not startling the assembly does not accomodate the myriad things.6 How is it when there is no reflection?"7

Shishuang said, "Nothing is concealed in the entire universe."8

Commentary
Nothing hidden in the entire universe means that all things exist thus; it means that the ten thousand entities are self-evident. Therefore, all reflection always takes place here and now. Because of this, true reflection is not connected with the subject that reflects or with the object of reflection; it is rather the unity of the subject-object duality in an instant of time. It is simply reflection, here and now. Do you see?

The monastic's question, "Do you reflect or not reflect?" is a tiger trap, so Shishuang says, "If I answer it, I won't startle the assembly." When the monastic's question finally becomes pointed, Shishuang says, "Nothing is concealed in the entire universe."

Capping Verse
When views and compassions are at last set aside,

the forest of patterns is no longer hidden

and the myriad forms are clearly evident.

Appearances

 * 1) The True Dharma Eye (case 58 of 300)