Tag: Zen

Hôgen pointed to the bamboo blinds with his hand. At that moment, two monks who were there went over to the blinds together and rolled them up. Hôgen said, “One has gained, one has lost.”

Kyôzan pointed to the snow lion and said, “Is there any that goes beyond this color?”

Unmon said, “I would have pushed it over for him at once.”

Setchô said, “He only knows how to push it over, but he doesn’t know how to help it up.”

One day, Enkan called to his attendant, “Bring me the rhinoceros fan.”

The attendant said, “It is broken.”

Enkan said, “If the fan is already broken, bring me the rhinoceros himself.”

The attendant gave no answer.

Shifuku drew a circle and wrote the ideograph “ox” in it.

Seppô, instructing the assembly, said, “There’s a poisonous snake on the southern side of the mountain. All of you should look at it carefully!”

Chôkei said, “Today in the Zen hall there are many people. They have lost their body and life.”

A monk told this to Gensha, who said, “Only Elder Brother Ryô [Chôkei] could say something like that. However, I wouldn’t talk like that.”

The monk asked, “What then would you say, Master”?

Gensha replied, “Why does it have to be ‘the southern side of the mountain’?”

Unmon threw his staff in front of Seppô and acted frightened.

Whenever Roso saw a monk coming, he immediately sat facing the wall. Hearing of this, Nansen said, “I usually tell my people to realize what has existed before the kalpa of emptiness, or to understand what has been before Buddhas appeared in the world. Still, I haven’t acknowledged one disciple or even a half. If he continues that way, he will go on even until the year of the donkey.”

Gantô came to Tokusan. He straddled the threshold of the gate and asked “Is this ordinary or is this holy?”

Tokusan shouted, “Kaatz!”

Gantô made a deep bow.

Hearing of this, Tôzan said, “Hardly anyone but Gantô could have accepted it that way.”

Gantô said, “Old Tôzan can’t tell between good and bad. At that time, I raised up with one hand and suppressed with the other.”

When Ungan was sweeping the ground, Dôgo said, “You are having a hard time!” Ungan said, “You should know there is one who doesn’t have a hard time.” Dôgo said, “If that’s true, you mean there is a second moon?” Ungan held up his broom and said, “What number of moon is this?” Dôgo was silent.

Gensha said, “That is precisely the second moon.”

Unmon said, “The servant greets the maid politely.”

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.”