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A monk once came across Tanzan sitting by a fire on a cold night.

To his surprise, Tanzan was burning a wooden Buddha statue.

“What are you doing?” the monk exclaimed.

“That’s a Buddha!"

Tanzan stirred the fire and replied, "I’m searching for the sacred relics."

“But it’s just wood!" the monk argued.

Tanzan looked up and said, "Then bring me another Buddha. It’s cold tonight."

The monk saw a sacred object, but Tanzan saw firewood.

This story isn’t about showing disrespect.

It’s about confusion—how easily we mistake the symbol for the real thing.

A statue points.

A teaching points.

A practice points.

But none of these are the actual essence.

If you hold on too tightly—sometimes even what’s meant to set you free can turn into something you cling to.