Last week, we talked about awakening—not in some extraordinary or dramatic way, but as a growing awareness of ourselves and the workings of the mind. We shared the story of Eno (Huineng), who, upon hearing a sutra, experienced something falling away within him.
Tonight, I want to share another episode from Eno’s life. It’s just as revealing, but different: this time, awakening comes not from a verse or a teaching that triggers the mind, but from being challenged. Often, this is how kōans or working in pairs operate: a simple question or situation can open a space within us and reveal what is usually hidden beneath habits and mental patterns.
After his first awakening, Eno decided to study with a Zen master. He traveled many days, from the south to the north of China, to meet Hongren, the Fifth Patriarch of Zen, seeking a deeper understanding of what had happened.
When he arrived, Hongren asked him:
“Where are you from, and what do you hope to accomplish by coming here?”
Eno answered simply and honestly:
“Your disciple Eno is from Lingnan, a commoner of Xindu. I have come for only one thing: to become a Buddha.”
Hongren scoffed:
“But you are from Lingnan, a jungle dog! How can you possibly become a Buddha?”
Eno replied with grounded clarity:
“People may be from the south or the north, but not their true nature. The body of this ‘jungle dog’ and that of the master are not the same. But how can our true nature differ?”
This exchange is deeply relevant to our own lives. How often do we answer questions about who we are with our story, our origins, our achievements or failures, without noticing what lies beyond those labels?
Eno does not deny his background. He simply distinguishes between what is conditioned and what is essence. There is a conventional reality—our history, birthplace, experiences—and a deeper reality: our true nature, which transcends circumstances and social labels.
As Zen teacher Shinsan Roshi often pointed out, the practice of Zen is not about polishing an identity, but about seeing through it. Recognizing that thoughts of inferiority or superiority, social labels, or external validation do not define us allows for a profound, simple freedom: less anxiety about proving ourselves, less effort to maintain an idea of who we are, and more presence in the ordinary, everyday life—washing dishes, working, living.
Reflection Questions
To conclude, here are some questions inspired by this story:
- Where does your mind still hold on to origins, stories, or identities?
- Can you sense, even briefly, what is present before that story—before your parents, before north or south, before success or failure?
There’s nothing to “achieve” with these questions—just notice, observe, see clearly. Like Eno, we can continue practicing, without arguing or convincing, simply seeing through labels and living with simplicity and authenticity.
Zen Mindfulness Cambridge Zenways Italia 