Mumon

“ Which mind do you propose to use for them?" Tokusan was as though dumb. Finally he asked the woman: "Do you know of any good teacher around here?" The old woman referred him to Ryutan, not more than five miles away. So he went to Ryutan in all humility, quite different from when he had started his journey. Ryutan in turn was so kind he forgot his own dignity. It was like pouring muddy water over a drunken man to sober him. After all, it was an unnecessary comedy. A hundred hearings cannot surpass one seeing, But after you see the teacher, that one glance cannot surpass a hundred hearings. ”

“ And again, if Maha-Kashapa had not smiled, how could he have transmitted the teaching? If he says that realization can be transmitted, he is like the city slicker that cheats the country dub, and if he says it cannot be transmitted, why does he approve of Maha-Kashapa? At the turning of a flower His disguise was exposed. No one in heaven or earth can surpass Maha-Kashapa's wrinkled face. ”

“ Kyogen said: "Zen is like a man hanging in a tree by his teeth over a precipice. His hands grasp no branch, his feet rest on no limb, and under the tree another person asks him: 'Why did Bodhidharma come to China from India?'"
If the man in the tree does not answer, he fails; and if he does answer, he falls and loses his life. ”

“ At that time one of my students asked me whether or not the enlightened man is subject to the law of causation. I answered him: 'The enlightened man is not subject to the law of causation.' For this answer evidencing a clinging to absoluteness I became a fox for five hundred rebirths, and I am still a fox. Will you save me from this condition with your Zen words and let me get out of a fox's body? Now may I ask you: Is the enlightened man subject to the law of causation?"
Hyakujo said: "The enlightened man is one with the law of causation."
At the words of Hyakujo the old man was enlightened. ”

“ But if you call this a staff, you will enter hell like an arrow. With this staff in my hand I can measure the depths and shallows of the world. The staff supports the heavens and makes firm the earth. Everywhere it goes the true teaching will be spread. ”

“ If anyone can answer this question instantly, his eyes will be like a comet and his mind like a flash of lightning. When the hubless wheel turns, Master or no master can stop it. It turns above heaven and below earth, South, north, east, and west. ”

“ To realize Zen one has to pass through the barrier of the patriarchs. Enlightenment always comes after the road of thinking is blocked. If you do not pass the barrier of the patriarchs or if your thinking road is not blocked, whatever you think, whatever you do, is like a tangling ghost. ”

“ When old Chu called Oshin three times his tongue was rotting, but when Oshin answered three times his words were brilliant. Chu was getting decrepit and lonesome, and his method of teaching was like holding a cow's head to feed it clover. Oshin did not trouble to show his Zen either. His satisfied stomach had no desire to feast. When the country is prosperous everyone is indolent; when the home is wealthy the children are spoiled. ”

“ When you can give the right answer, even though your past road was one of death, you open up a new road of life. But if you cannot answer, you should live ages hence and ask the future Buddha, Maitreya. Kyogen is truly a fool Spreading that ego-killing poison That closes his pupils' mouths And lets their tears stream from their dead eyes. ”

“ If any of you has one eye, he will see the failure on the teacher's part. However, I am not discussing gain and loss. When the screen is rolled up the great sky opens, Yet the sky is not attuned to Zen. It is best to forget the great sky And to retire from every wind. ”

“ A monk asked Fuketsu: "Without speaking, without silence, how can you express the truth?"
Fuketsu observed: "I always remember springtime in southern China. The birds sing among innumerable kinds of fragrant flowers." ”

“ If one truly understands, he will wash out his mouth for three days after saying the word Buddha, and he will close his ears and flee after hearing "This mind is Buddha." Under blue sky, in bright sunlight, One need not search around. ”

“ At these words Joshu was enlightened.
Mumon’s comment: Nansen could melt Joshu's frozen doubts at once when Joshu asked his questions. I doubt though if Joshu reached the point that Nansen did. He needed thirty more years of study. In spring, hundreds of flowers; in autumn, a harvest moon; In summer, a refreshing breeze; in winter, snow will accompany you. If useless things do not hang in your mind, Any season is a good season for you. ”

“ Ummon, rebuking Tozan's spiritless responses, said: "You are good for nothing. You simply wander from one monastery to another."
Before Ummon's words were ended Tozan was enlightened.
Mumon’s comment: Ummon fed Tozan good Zen food. If Tozan can digest it, Ummon may add another member to his family. In the evening Tozan swam around in a sea of good and bad, but at dawn Ummon crushed his nut shell. After all, he wasn't so smart. Now, I want to ask: Did Tozan deserve the three blows? If you say yes, not only Tozan but every one of you deserves them. If you say no, Ummon is speaking a lie. ”

“ If anyone perceives Ummon's particular skillfulness, he will know at what point the student was off the track, and he will be a teacher of man and Devas. If not, he cannot even perceive himself. When a fish meets the fishhook If he is too greedy, he will be caught. When his mouth opens His life already is lost. ”

“ Old Nansen gave away his treasure-words. He must have been greatly upset. Nansen was too kind and lost his treasure. Truly, words have no power. Even though the mountain becomes the sea, Words cannot open another's mind. ”

“ When he opens his mouth he is lost. When he seals his mouth he is lost. If he does not open it, if he does not seal it, he is 108,000 miles from truth. In the light of day, Yet in a dream he talks of a dream. ”

“ Tosotsu built three barriers and made the monks pass through them. The first barrier is studying Zen. In studying Zen the aim is to see one's own true nature. Now where is your true nature?
Secondly, when one realizes his own true nature he will be free from birth and death. Now when you shut the light from your eyes and become a corpse, how can you free yourself? ”

“ He uses one mask to call "Master" and another that answers the master. Another mask says "Sober up" and another, "Do not be cheated by others." If anyone clings to any of his masks, he is mistaken, yet if he imitates Zuigan, he will make himself fox-like. Some Zen students do not realize the true man in a mask Because they recognize ego-soul. Ego-soul is the seed of birth and death, And foolish people call it the true man. ”

“ How will you proceed from the top of that pole? Look out! The man who lacks the third eye of insight Will cling to the measure of the hundred feet. Such a man will jump from there and kill himself, Like a blind man misleading other blind men. ”

“ One holds, the other gives out. Each supports the profound teaching with a single hand. Kembo and Ummon are like two riders neither of whom can surpass the other. It is very difficult to find the perfect man. ”

“ I want to ask you monks: How much difference is there between disciples and outsiders? To tread the sharp edge of a sword, To run on smooth-frozen ice, One needs no footsteps to follow. Walk over the cliffs with hands free. ”

“ Enlightenment, which Gutei and the boy attained, has nothing to do with a finger. If anyone clings to a finger, Tenryu will be so disappointed that he will annihilate Gutei, the boy, and the clinger all together. Gutei cheapens the teaching of Tenryu, Emancipating the boy with a knife. Compared to the Chinese god who pushed aside a mountain with one hand Old Gutei is a poor imitator. ”

“ If you understand this intimately, you will see the two monks there trying to buy iron and gaining gold. The sixth patriarch could not bear to see those two dull heads, so he made such a bargain. Wind, flag, mind moves, The same understanding. When the mouth opens All are wrong. ”

“ Hyakujo wished to send a monk to open a new monastery. He told his pupils that whoever answered a question most ably would be appointed. Placing a water vase on the ground, he asked: "Who can say what this is without calling its name?"
The chief monk said: "No one can call it a wooden shoe."
Isan, the cooking monk, tipped over the vase with his foot and went out.
Hyakujo smiled and said: "The chief monk loses." And Isan became the master of the new monastery.
Mumon’s comment: Isan was brave enough, but he could not escape Hyakujo's trick. ”

“ One who sits on the top of a hundred-foot pole has attained a certain height but still is not handling Zen freely. He should proceed on from there and appear with his whole body in the ten parts of the world. ”

“ I think he is very mischievous. He is like an old doughnut seller trying to catch a passerby to force his doughnuts down his mouth. The customer can neither swallow nor spit out the doughnuts, and this causes suffering. ”

“ Words cannot describe everything. The heart's message cannot be delivered in words. If one receives words literally, he will be lost, If he tries to explain with words, he will not attain enlightenment in this life. ”

“ Joshu is the man who opens his mouth and shows his heart. I doubt if this monk really saw Joshu's heart. I hope he did not mistake the bell for a pitcher. It is too clear and so it is hard to see. A dunce once searched for a fire with a lighted lantern. Had he known what fire was, He could have cooked his rice much sooner. ”

“ Because Sozan had eyes and knew with whom to deal. Even so, I want to ask: At what point did Seizei drink wine? The poorest man in China, The bravest man in China, He barely sustains himself, Yet wishes to rival the wealthiest. ”

“ The Bodhisattva went in front of the girl and snapped his fingers, and in that instant the girl came out from her deep meditation.
Mumon’s comment: Old Shakyamuni set a very poor stage. I want to ask you monks: If Manjusri, who is supposed to have been the teacher of seven Buddhas, could not bring this girl out of meditation, how then could a Bodhisattva who was a mere beginner? If you understand this intimately, you yourself can enter the great meditation while you are living in the world of delusion. One could not awaken her, the other could. Neither are good actors. ”

“ If one understands this, he will see the old brotherhood still gathering, but if not, even though he has studied the truth from ages before the Buddhas, he will not attain enlightenment. The point of the question is dull but the answer is intimate. How many persons hearing it will open their eyes? ”

“ Nansen saw the monks of the eastern and western halls fighting over a cat. He seized the cat and told the monks: "If any of you say a good word, you can save the cat."
No one answered. So Nansen boldly cut the cat in two pieces. ”

“ A traveling monk asked an old woman the road to Taizan, a popular temple supposed to give wisdom to the one who worships there. The old woman said: "Go straight ahead." When the monk proceeded a few steps, she said to herself: "He also is a common church-goer." ”

“ When prison stocks are iron and have no place for the head, the prisoner is doubly in trouble. When there is no place for Zen in the head of our generation, it is in grievous trouble. If you try to hold up the gate and door of a falling house, You also will be in trouble. ”

“ Whoever can pass these three barriers will be a master wherever he stands. Whatever happens about him he will turn into Zen. Otherwise he will be living on poor food and not even enough of that to satisfy himself. An instant realization sees endless time. Endless time is as one moment. When one comprehends the endless moment He realizes the person who is seeing it. ”

“ He is like raising waves without wind. After he remained years in China he had only one disciple and that one lost his arm and was deformed. Alas, ever since he has had brainless disciples. Why did Bodhidharma come to China? For years monks have discussed this. All the troubles that have followed since Came from that teacher and disciple. ”

“ The monk asked: "Since the Buddha was meditating, why could he not fulfill Buddhahood?"
Seijo said: "He was not a Buddha."
Mumon’s comment: I will allow his realization, but I will not admit his understanding. When one ignorant attains realization he is a saint. When a saint begins to understand he is ignorant. It is better to realize mind than body. When mind is realized one need not worry about body. When mind and body become one The man is free. ”

“ Then he disappeared.
The next day Hyakujo gave an order through the chief monk to prepare to attend the funeral of a monk. "No one was sick in the infirmary," wondered the monks. "What does our teacher mean?" ”

“ Tokusan heard of this remark and asked Ganto to come to him. "I have heard," he said, "you are not approving my Zen." Ganto admitted this indirectly. Tokusan said nothing.
The next day Tokusan delivered an entirely different kind of lecture to the monks. Ganto laughed and clapped his hands, saying: "I see our old man understands ultimate truth indeed. None in China can surpass him."
Mumon’s comment: Speaking about ultimate truth, both Ganto and Tokusan did not even dream it. After all, they are dummies. Whoever understands the first truth Should understand the ultimate truth. ”