Daowu Yuanjie [W-G: Tao-wu Yuan-chieh / J: Dogo Enchi]

                 Yunyan Tansheng and Daowu Yuanjie were admiring a statue of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Guanyin.  As was common, the statue portrayed the Bodhisattva with multiple arms and eyes.

                Tangshen asked, “Why do you suppose the Bodhisattva has so many hands and eyes?”

                “It’s like someone in their sleep groping for a pillow,” Daowu replied.

                “Ah!  I understand.”

                “Tell me what you understand.”

                “The whole body is covered with hands and eyes.”

                “That isn’t bad,” Daowu said, but his tone suggested that Tansheng still did not fully understand.

                “How would you put it?”  Tansheng asked.

                “The whole body is hands and eyes.”

[Daowu Yuanjie –  Zen Masters of China: 116-19]