"

Joshu responded by saying, 'The four elements and the five components.'

"According to Buddhist mythology, existence consists of Four Elements and Five Components. Now this is an absurd answer to the question because these are the very things the world is constituted of. And the questioner is asking, 'When the world is destroyed, you say the Buddha nature remains. What is that nature?' Joshu simply says, 'Four elements and five components.'

"The monk asked again, 'These are the very things that will be destroyed; what is this 'nature' that will not be destroyed?'

Joshu said, 'It is the four elements and the five components.'

"Again the same answer. Now it becomes very absurd as far as reason is concerned, but what Joshu is saying is hidden behind the words. He is saying, 'The witness who knows these Five Components and Four Elements.' He does not use the word witness, because no word is really capable of explaining the witness. So rather than using the word, he again repeats: 'The world may be destroyed but the witness will remain. Up to now you have not even witnessed the Four Elements and Five Components. If you go inwards you will witness these Four Elements and Five Components, and the one that is witnessing is the buddha nature – about which nothing can be said.'

"The limit of language comes with Four Elements and Five Components. Beyond that is an open sky of witnessing, just a pure awareness. You can have it, but you cannot say anything about it. That's why Joshu does not say it. He again and again reminds the person, 'Language ends with Four Elements and Five Components. What can I do? This is the last milestone; beyond this, what remains is the buddha nature.'

"This is the way of Zen, not to say things to their completion. This has to be understood; it is a very important methodology. Not to say everything means to give an opportunity to the listener to complete it. All answers are incomplete. The master has only given you a direction: go in the direction of Four Elements and Five Components. By the time you reach the limit, you will know what is going to remain."