What is the difference between investigating and seeking?

参跟求有什么分别？

Q: When we investigate, “Who is mindful of the Buddha?” isn’t this considered seeking?

A: This is called investigating, not seeking.

Q: What is the difference between investigating and seeking?

A: Investigating Chan is like drilling a hole. Such effort is not considered seeking. When one seeks, the process is endless and one will never produce a hole from it. When you drill, a hole is produced. Do you understand?

Q: It seems like we are trying to find something by asking, “Who?” in “Who is mindful of the Buddha?”

A: Yes, we are trying to find something. However, we are not seeking. Finding is the same as investigating. It is called investigating the meditation topic [literally, “what comes before words”], instead of seeking the meditation topic.

问：我们参「念佛是谁？」这不是在求吗？

答：这是参，不是求。

问：参跟求有什么分别？

答：参就好像用锥子钻窟窿似的，你钻窟窿，并不是求窟窿。你要是用求的，求到什么时候，窟窿也不会有的；你用锥钻窟窿，才会有窟窿，懂了吗？

问：「念佛是谁」那个「谁」好像是在找一个东西。

答：是在找，这不是求。找也是参，这都叫参话头，没有叫求话头的。