American dog say, 'Woof, woof.' Korean dog say, 'Mung, mung.' Polish dog say, 'How, how.' So which dog barking is correct? That is human beings' barking, not 'dog' barking. If dog and you become one hundred percent one, then you know sound of barking. This is Zen teaching. Boom! Become one.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the notion that understanding transcends language and cultural differences; true understanding comes from a deeper, unified experience.
This quote by Seung Sahn illustrates a core principle of Zen teaching: that reality and understanding go beyond mere words or sounds. It suggests that the true essence of communication, whether in relation to dogs barking or human interactions, lies in a deep connection that is felt rather than articulated. By indicating that the sounds attributed to dogs vary by culture, he points out that these are constructs of human perception—yet when one emerges into a state of oneness with another being, the true 'barking' or essence can be felt and understood without language. This understanding encourages one to seek unity and deeper comprehension in all aspects of life.
In practice
In a mindfulness workshop discussing the importance of presence and understanding.
Correct meditation means correctly understanding your situation moment by moment - what are you doing now? Only do it! Then, each action is complete; each action is enough. Then no thinking, so each moment I can perceive everything just like this.
If I knew of something that could serve my nation but would ruin another, I would not propose it to my prince, for I am first a man and only then a Frenchman... because I am necessarily a man, and only accidentally am I French.
I am that prodigal son who wasted all the portion entrusted to me by my father. But I have not yet fallen at my father's knees. I have not yet begun to put away from me the enticements of my former riotous living.
To show our simple skill, That is the true beginning of our end.
We see in order to move; we move in order to see.
It is a strange desire, to seek power, and to lose liberty; or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self.
On the rare occasions when our dreams succeed and achieve perfection - most dreams are bungled - the are symbolic chains of scene and images in place of a narrative poetic language; they circumscribe our experiences or expectations or situations with such poetic boldness and decisiveness that in the morning we are always amazed when we remember our dreams.
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