Dogen

Dogen used to tell his disciples, "Unless you die, you will not be reborn." So one stupid disciple -- and there are always many! -- thought, " if this is the key, then I must try it." So one day he must have lain with closed eyes, flat out in front of the door of the master, just in the morning when the master was expected to come out for the morning prayer. The master opened the door and found that his disciple was lying there not breathing, as if dead. The master Dogen said, " Okey, doing well."
So the disciple opened one eye just to see the expression on the master's face, and Dogen said, "Stupid! Dead men don't open their eyes!"