Then he asked the wrong question. Straight up asking “Ougi, why did you decide on a formal dress code when this apparently has no meaning for your teachings?” is a different question from “Does wearing robes make us a cult?”, and shows a different understanding of what the robes mean.
The answer would still be deliberately confusing and enigmatic, but that’s kinda the whole point of a koan.
Then he asked the wrong question. Straight up asking “Ougi, why did you decide on a formal dress code when this apparently has no meaning for your teachings?” is a different question from “Does wearing robes make us a cult?”, and shows a different understanding of what the robes mean. The answer would still be deliberately confusing and enigmatic, but that’s kinda the whole point of a koan.