Shih-tou Hsi-chien (700-790) was a very well known Chinese Ch'an master.
As a young monk, he was one of the disciples of the Sixth Patriarch Hui-neng.
After Hui-neng passed away, Shih-tou continued his pilgrimage...
He paid a vist to the Great master Hsing-szu at the Ching-yuan mountain.
Hsing-szu asked: "Where did you come from?"
Shih-tou replied: "From Tsao-chi [referring where Hui-neng resided]."
"What did you get at Tsao-chi?"
"Before I was at Tsao-chi, I was not lacking anything."
"If so, why were you there?"
"If I were not there, how could I know I did not lack anything?"
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