original face

Original face is a concept in Zen Buddhism. It originates in the following koan:

What did your face look like before your parents were born?

This koan is an invitation to try to get in touch with your universal awareness, without all of the particulars of your individual body-mind's socio-cultural and psychological qualities. It is related to the saying that "Before zen, mountains were mountains and rivers were rivers. While studying zen, everything is very complicated. After enlightentment, mountains are once again mountains and rivers once again rivers." Stuart Davis has recorded a song called "Original Face"

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