Inside, Outside
One Thursday evening, after a Dharma talk at the New Haven Zen Center, a student asked Seung Sahn Soen-sa, "It seems that in Christianity God is outside me, whereas in Zen God is inside me, so God and I are one. Is this correct?"
Soen-sa said, "Where is inside? Where is outside?"
"Inside is in here; outside is out there."
"How can you separate? Where is the boundary line?"
"I'm inside my skin, and the world is outside it."
Soen-sa said, "This is your body's skin. Where is your mind's skin?"
"Mind has no skin."
"Then where is mind?"
"Inside my head."
"Ah, your mind is very small." (Loud laughter from the audience.) "You must keep your mind big. Then you will understand that God, Buddha, and the whole universe fit into your mind." Then, holding up his watch, Soen-sa said, "Is this watch outside your mind or inside it?"
"Outside."
"If you say 'outside,' I will hit you. If you say 'inside,' I will still hit you."
"I don't care-I still say it's outside!"
"If it is outside, how do you know that this is a watch? Does your mind fly out of your eyes and touch the watch and fly back inside?"
"I see the watch. I'm inside, and the watch is outside."
There were a few moments of silence. Soen-sa said, "Don't make inside or outside. Okay?"
The student, still looking doubtful, bowed.
