CASE 8: Hyakujô and the Fox – See Mumonkan Case 2

Whenever Master Hyakujô delivered a sermon, an old man was always there listening with
the monks. When they left, he left too. One day, however, he remained behind. Hyakujô
asked him, “What man are you, standing there?” The old man replied, ” In the past, in the
time of Kashyapa Buddha, I lived on this mountain as a Zen priest. Once a monk came and
asked me, ‘Does a perfectly enlightened person fall under the law of cause and effect or not?’
I said to him, ‘He does not.” Because of this answer, I fell into the state of a fox for 500 lives.
Now, I beg you, Master, please say a turning word.” Hyakujô said, “The law of cause and
effect cannot be obscured.” Upon hearing this, the old man became greatly enlightened.