I cannot help quoting another comment on the story as this is one of the most significant subjects in the study of Zen. When Suibi Mugaku (Ts‘uiwei Wu-hsiao)[7.21], a disciple of Tanka, was making offerings to the Arhats, probably carved in wood, a monk came up and asked, “Tanka burned a wooden Buddha and how is it that you make offerings to the Arhats?” The master said, “Even when it was burned, it could not be burned up; and as to my making offerings, just leave me alone as I please.” “When these offerings are made to the Arhats, would they come to receive them, or not?” “Do you eat everyday, or not?” the master demanded. As the monk remained silent, the master declared, “Intelligent ones are hard to be met with!” Whatever the merit of Tanka from the purely Zen-point of view, there is no doubt that such deeds as his are to be regarded as highly sacrilegious and to be avoided by all pious Buddhists. Those who have not yet gained a thorough understanding of Zen may go all lengths to commit every manner of crime and excess, even in the name of Zen. For this reason, the regulations of the monastery are very rigid that pride of heart may depart and the cup of humility be drunk to the dregs. When Shukō (Chu-hung)[7.22] of the Ming dynasty was writing a book on the ten laudable deeds of a monk, one of those high-spirited, self-assertive fellows came to him, saying, “What is the use of writing such a book when in Zen there is not even an atom of thing to be called laudable or not?” The writer answered, “The five aggregates (_skandha_) are entangling, and the four elements (_mahābhūta_) grow rampant, and how can you say there are no evils?” The monk still insisted, “The four elements are ultimately all empty and the five aggregates have no reality whatever.” Shukō, giving him a slap on his face, said, “So many are mere learned ones; you are not the real thing yet; give me another answer.” But the monk made no answer and went off filled with angry feelings. “There,” said the master smilingly, “why don’t you wipe the dirt off your own face?” In the study of Zen, the power of an all-illuminating insight must go hand in hand with a deep sense of humility and meekness of heart.