"Two things: first, the it is the ultimate experience. Zen is very particular. There have been gods which are male gods, created by male chauvinists: 'How can a god be a woman?' And there have been women goddesses in the primitive tribes, far closer to the idea of the father god than the mother goddess, because the mother gives birth to life. God can be conceived as the whole womb of universe. He creates the world. It seems to be more human to conceive of God as a woman, but the male chauvinist mind won't allow it. So only in very primitive tribes is there still some idea of mother goddesses. But all over the world, in the so-called civilized societies, the male chauvinist has replaced the mother goddesses and has put father god's.

"To avoid this stupid controversy about whether God is a man or a woman, Zen calls the ultimate experience, it – neither he nor she. That comes very close to the point of how God can be male or God can be female. It can only be a neutral life principle which can express itself in thousands of ways in men, in women, in trees, in mountains. Those are all just his expressions. In reality, hidden behind all these expressions, is a pure life principle. It can only be called it.

"So when Hyakujo asked, 'With your mouth and lips closed, how would you say it?' Those who are not acquainted with the world of Zen, will be simply surprised, 'What are you asking, what is it! In the first place you are asking an impossible thing: 'With your mouth and lips closed,' and in the second place you are asking, 'How would you say it?' – two mysteries in one question.'

Isan said, 'I would ask you to say it.'

"He challenged his masters: 'It is impossible, but I will give you a chance. If I cannot say it, I want you to say it. With your lips closed, with your mouth shut, say it.'

Hyakujo said, 'I could say it, but if I did so, I fear I should have no successors.'

"What he is saying is, 'If I have to say it, then you are not capable of being my successor."