A monk asked Zhaozhou, "What is the meaning of the Bodhidharma's coming from the West?" Zhaozhou replied, "The cypress tree in the courtyard." The monk, confused, asked, "Are you not speaking of the objective world?" Zhaozhou replied, "I am not speaking of the objective world." The monk persisted, "Then what is the meaning of the Bodhidharma's coming from the West?" Zhaozhou answered, "The cypress tree in the courtyard."