Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – Case 12 – The Essence of Bodhidharma’s Coming from the West
After winter-retreat was over in Doksung Chonglim monastery, one monk, with his three fellow monks dropped by and asked, “What is the …
Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – Case 11 – Three Three in Front Three Three in Back
A visiting monk came into the Venerable Zen Master Hye-Am’s room, prostrated three times and said, “You are three three in front …
Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – No. 10 – Sound and Color
A student came to the Great Venerable Zen Master Pop-An (Fa-Yen Wen-I 885 – 958) and asked, “How should I understand color …
Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – No. 9 – Ten Different Kinds of Diseases From the Koan “Mu” (Nothingness)
One monk asked zen master Chao-Chou (788 – 897), “Does even the dog have a Self-Nature?” The Venerable master Chao-Chou said, “Mu …
Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – Case 8 – Zen Master Deok-San’s Bowl!
One day Zen master Deok-San (Te-Shan Hsuan-Chien 781 – 867) was on the way to the dining room when he met Sul-Vong …
Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – Case 7 – Speaking, Silence, Movement and Stillness!
Koan: A long time ago the venerable master Mann-Gong and Yong-Song had a little conversation at the Korean Zen Academy. Master Yong-Song …
Cookies of Zen – Koan – Case No. 6 – Brighten Eye by Re-Examination
Brighten Eye by Re-Examination: In the year 2468 (1924), Master Hye-Am was in Winter Retreat under Venerable Master Song-Wol at Tongdo Temple’s …
Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – No. 5 – Four-Line Verse
That one raises a sincere faith on the Four-Line Verse is not just a formal request for belief. Zen Verse: Whatever has …
Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – Case 3 – Zen Master Hye-Am “Losing Body and Extinguishing Life”
The Case Once the Venerable zen Master Hye-Am was staying at Kwangdok Temple in Choognam, when, late in the night, a tattered-clothed …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 100 – Zen Master Haryo “Sword Against Which a Hair Is Blown!”
The Case A monk asked zen master Haryo, ‘What is the sword against which a hair is blown?’ Haryo said, ‘Each branch …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 99 – Zen Master Cha “Ten-bodied Herdsman”
The Case Emperor Shukuso asked, zen master Chu, ‘What is the ten-bodied-herdsman?’ Chu said, ‘Go trampling on Vairocana’s head!’ The emperor said, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 98 – Zen Master Tempyo “Two Wrongs!”
The Case When zen master Tempyo went on a pilgrimage visiting teachers, he stayed with Sai-in. He always said, ‘Don’t say you …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 97 – The Diamond Sutra’s “The Transgression Is Wiped Out”
The Case The Diamond Sutra says, ‘If anyone is despised by others, even if he has committed some serious transgression in a …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 96 – Zen Master Joshu “Three Turning Words!”
The Case Zen master Joshu said, “Clay Buddhas cannot pass through water. Metal Buddhas cannot pass through a furnace. Wooden Buddhas cannot …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 95 – Zen Master Chokei Discusses the Holy Words
The Case Zen master Chokei one day said, “Even if you say that the Arhats still have three poisons, you should not …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 94 – The Scriptures
The Case In the scriptures the World-honored says, “When unseeing, why do you not see the unseeing? If you see the unseeing, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 93 – Zen Master Taiko “You Fox-Devil!”
The Case A monk asked zen master Taiko, ‘What is the meaning of Chokei’s words, ‘He seems to observe reflection and thanksgiving …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 92 – The World-honored One Takes His Seat!
The Case The World-honored One one day took his seat on the platform. Manjusri struck the table with the gavel and said, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 91 – Zen Master Enkan “The Rhinoceros Fan”
The Case Zen master Enkan one day called to his attendant and said, “Bring me the rhinoceros fan.” The attendant said, “The …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 90 – Zen Master Chimon “The Essence of Wisdom”
The Case A monk asked zen master Chimon, ‘What is the essence of wisdom?’ Chimon said, ‘The oyster swallows the full moon.’ …