Tag: Prayer

Jizô asked Hôgen, “Where are you going, senior monk?” Hôgen said, “I am on pilgrimage,
following the wind.” Jizô said, “What are you on pilgrimage for?” Hôgen said, “I don’t
know.” Jizô said, “Non knowing is most intimate.” Hôgen suddenly attained great
enlightenment.

A monk asked Unmon. “Not a single thought arises: is there any fault or not?” Unmon said,
“Mt. Sumeru.”

A monk asked Jôshû, “Does the dog have buddha-nature, or not?” Jôshû said, “It has” The monk said, “If it has it, why did it creep into that skin bag?” Jôshû said, “Because it does so knowingly.” Another monk asked, “Does the dog have buddha-nature, or not?” Jôshû said, “It has not”. The monk said, “All living beings have buddha-nature. Why doesn’t the dog have any?” Jôshû said, “Because it is in its karma-consciousness.”

Hôgen asked Shuzanshu, “‘If there is only a hairsbreadth of difference, it is the distance between heaven and earth.’ How do you understand that?” Shuzanshu said, “If there is only a hairsbreadth of difference, it is the distance between heaven and earth.” Hôgen said, “If that’s your understanding, how could you ever attain IT?” Shuzanshu said, “My view is just that. How about you, Master?” Hôgen said, “If there only is a hairsbreadth of difference, it is the distance between heaven and earth.” Shuzanshu made a deep bow.

Mayoku, with his ring-staff in hand, came to Shôkei. He circled Shôkei’s dais three times, shook the ring-staff and stood there bolt upright. Shôkei said, “Right, right!” Mayoku then came to Nansen. He circled Nansen’s dais three times, shook the ring-staff and stood there bolt upright. Nansen said, “Not right, not right!” Then, Mayoku said, “Master Shôkei said, ‘Right, right!’ Why, Master, do you say, ‘Not right, not right!’?” Nansen said, “With Shôkei it is right, but with you it is not right. This is nothing but a whirling of the wind. In the end, it will perish.”

Isan asked Kyôzan, “Where have you come from?” Kyôzan said, “From the rice field.” Isan said, “How many people are there in the rice field?” Kyôzan thrust his hoe into the ground and stood with his hands folded on his chest. Isan said, “There are a great number of people cutting thatch on the South Mountain.” Kyôzan took up his hoe and left immediately.