Zen on Subjectivity and Objectivity

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One day, a Zen teacher who lived alone had four travelling monks as visitors.

The four began arguing about subjectivity and objectivity. The teacher joined them and said, “There is a big stone. Do you consider it to be inside or outside your mind?” One of the monks replied, “From the Buddhist viewpoint, everything is an objectification of the mind, so I would say that the stone is inside my mind.” “Your head must be really weighed down,” responded the teacher, “if you’re carrying that stone around in your mind.”

One day, a Zen teacher who lived alone had four travelling monks as visitors.

The four began arguing about subjectivity and objectivity. The teacher joined them and said, “There is a big stone. Do you consider it to be inside or outside your mind?” One of the monks replied, “From the Buddhist viewpoint, everything is an objectification of the mind, so I would say that the stone is inside my mind.” “Your head must be really weighed down,” responded the teacher, “if you’re carrying that stone around in your mind.”