We can divide the kaleidoscopic phenomena of the world into two different groups, sentient beings and the inanimate. Sentient beings are humans, birds, and animals, while the inanimate are mountains, rivers, trees, flowers and the like. When a sentient being teaches the Dharma, we can hear it; when the inanimate teaches, it is even more pleasant and moving. "When Master Daosheng speaks the Dharma, even the hard rock nods." Here, it is not only Master Daosheng teaching the Dharma; the hard rock is also teaching. If the hard rock were not teaching, how could it nod?

We see white clouds floating freely in the sky and rivers meandering wistfully toward the sea; the ease of the white clouds and the wistfulness of the rivers show us how carefree they are. We see the change of the seasons, the passing of time, the blooming and wilting of flowers, and the aging of life; these are nature's way of teaching us the meaning of impermanence.

We can use our ears to listen to the teachings of sentient beings, but we need to use our hearts to listen to the inanimate. Actually, everything in our daily lives teaches us something. The spring blossoms and autumn moon are pleasant to behold, and the singing birds and chirping bugs are delightful to hear. Even the tea of Chan Master Zhaozhou and the cookies of Chan Master Yunmen were used to teach the Dharma. Be it the sound of the temple drum, the ringing of the temple bell at dawn and dusk, or the symphony of the different Dharma instruments, all of these things teach us the Dharma.

Natural disasters are the earth's way of reminding us how fragile our world is; wilting flowers are nature's way of teaching us about the impermanence of life. War and battles show us the suffering and emptiness of life; sickness, aging, and death teach us that our bodies are a source of suffering. Look around in your daily life. No matter what you are doing —whether it be getting dressed, eating, resting, traveling about, walking, waiting, sitting, or sleeping—you see the arising, abiding, changing, and extinction of all phenomena. We witness the birth, aging, sickness, and death of sentient beings. These things all teach us the Dharma.

A Chan master picked up a duster and said, "Do you understand?" If you understand the meaning of this, you are enlightened. A Chan master may point to a tree in the garden and ask, "Do you know?" If you know, then you are a Chan practitioner. However, the echo of a deep valley or the music of nature is not so easily understood. "Eat when you are hungry and go to bed when you feel sleepy" is the Dharma of daily life. "To give without attachment and help others selflessly" is the highest form of teaching. If you can hear not only the teachings of sentient beings but also understand the teachings of the inanimate, then you have discovered the meaning of life. You can then rid yourself of ignorance and become enlightened.