TL;DR：This reflective article explores a Zen koan from Chan Master Huang Long, highlighting the parable of the Heavenly Maiden of Virtue and the Maiden of Darkness to question our attachments to labels like “good” and “bad.” Through the author’s personal story of injury and unexpected growth, readers are invited to look beyond dualities and embrace life’s challenges as opportunities for deeper insight and spiritual freedom.
There is this ko’an that really set me contemplating…
One day, Chan Master Huang Long Hui Nan was giving a teaching:
“There is this person who reads the Avatamsaka Sutra in the day time and Prajnaparamita Sutra in the night time. Every day and night, he is very diligent.
“There is another person who does not meditate nor does he discuss the Dharma. In the day time, he will spread his ragged mat and sleep. These two people came together to visit me. Which of the two people is right?”
For a long while, no one answered.
Chan Master Huang Long then said, “Heavenly Maiden of Virtue and Maiden of Darkness, a wise person will not want both.”
The first person studies the sutras so diligently. Isn’t he an exemplar of a good practitioner? The second person sleeps all day and does not do any practice. Isn’t he a good-for-nothing?
But wait. Let us look deeper.
Could it be that this second person has attained great liberation? If he was not needed by others, he could choose to abide in a non-doing state. If he was needed, he would be right there.
So, who is right?
In this ko’an, Chan Master Huang Long used the parable of the Heavenly Maiden of Virtue and the Maiden of Darkness. Who are they?
The parable of the inseparable sisters
In the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, there is an interesting story.
One day, a woman of otherworldly beauty visited a rich merchant’s house. The merchant curiously asked for her name and why she was here.
The beauty replied that she was called Heavenly Maiden of Virtue. Whoever she visited would obtain anything he wanted. The merchant was overjoyed and quickly hosted her.
Soon after, another woman came. This woman was extremely ugly-looking. She introduced herself as the Heavenly Maiden of Darkness. Whoever was visited by her would lose all his possessions. The merchant quickly asked her to leave his house.
Darkness then forewarned the merchant that it was silly of him to say that because she and the Heavenly Maiden of Virtue were sisters and they were always together.
To chase her out would mean to expel her sister, too. The merchant then made the decision that both should leave his house.
What would the wise do?
The average person would like the Heavenly Maiden of Virtue and dislike the Maiden of Darkness. The wise one would be able to go beyond likes and dislikes and transcend duality.
Master Huang Long used the parable of the two sisters to imply that the wise one will not be attached to the notion of the “good practitioner” in the case of the first person, or even to the notion of the “non-doing practitioner” in the case of the second person.
The wise is able to transcend opposites and differences. Therefore, he is free.
A blessing in disguise
Last year, I accidentally fractured my left foot, which confined me to a wheelchair and later to crutches for several months. This greatly impacted my mobility and caused significant inconvenience in my daily life. However, what seemed like a misfortune turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The forced pause gave me precious quiet time for self-reflection, allowing me to deeply reconsider my life priorities and focus on what truly matters. This experience ultimately deepened my spiritual practice and contributed to my personal growth and transformation.
What initially appeared to be a setback became an opportunity for inner growth and positive changes.
As we journey into the rest of 2025 let us embrace the lessons learned from our experiences. Things that seem like challenges may be hidden blessings, reminding us not to be deluded by duality.
May we find wisdom in transcending notions of good and bad, and approach each moment with openness, gratitude, wisdom and compassion.
Wise Steps:
- Pause Before Judgment – When faced with a situation or person, resist labeling it as good or bad. Take a moment to observe without clinging to immediate judgments.
- Reflect on Stillness – Use quiet moments, even forced ones like illnesses or setbacks, to look inward and examine what truly matters in your life.
- Embrace Wholeness – Understand that growth often comes through discomfort. Welcome both joy and hardship as integral to your journey toward inner freedom.
