It is written that once Notire Basura came upon a group of monks seated zazen in a circle vigorously scratching themselves and each other, all the while arguing loudly and shaking their heads vigorously. 

"Why do you scratch so and shake your heads? Notire asked. 

"Can you not see," the monk replied, " we are wearing shirts woven of split hairs to remind ourselves that there is an infinity of hairs to be split? 

It is said that Notire bowed politely and departed.