Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 69 – Zen Master Nansen Draws a Circle
The Case Zen master Nansen, Kisu, and Mayoku were on their way together to pay their respects to Chu Kokushi. When they …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 68 – Zen Master Kyozan Asks Sansho’s Name
The Case Zen Master Kyozan asked Sansho, ‘What is your name?’ Sansho said, ‘Ejaku!’ Kyozan said, ‘Ejaku is my name!’ Sansho said, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 67 – Zen Master Fu Concludes His Lecture on the Scriptures
The Case Emperor Wu of Liang asked zen master Fu to give a lecture on the Scriptures. Fu mounted the platform, struck …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 66 – Zen Master Ganto Laughed Loudly
The Case Zen master Ganto asked a monk, ‘Where are you from?’ The monk said, ‘From the western capital.’ Ganto said, ‘After …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – Nr. 65 – A Philosopher Questions the Buddha
The Case A non-Buddhist philosopher said to the Buddha, “I do not ask for words; I do not ask for non- words.” …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 64 – Zen Master Joshu Puts His Sandals on His Head
The Case Zen Master Nansen told the previous story [Case 63] to Joshu and asked his opinion. Joshu then took off his …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 63 – Zen Master Nansen Cuts the Cat in Two
The Case Zen master Nansen one day saw the monks of the Eastern and Western halls quarreling over a cat. He held …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 62 – Zen Master Ummon’s “One Treasure”
The Case Zen master Ummon said to the assembled monks, ‘Between heaven and earth, within the universe, there is one treasure. It …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – Nr. 61 – Zen Master Fuketsu’s “One Particle of Dust”
The Case Zen master Fuketsu said to the assembled monks, ‘If one particle of dust is raised, the state will come into …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 60 – Zen Master Ummon’s Staff Becoming a Dragon
The Case Zen master Ummon held out his staff and said to the assembled monks, ‘The staff has transformed itself into a …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 59 – Zen Master Joshu’s “Why Not Quote to the End?”
The Case A monk said to zen master Joshu, ”The real Way is no difficult. lt only abhors choice and attachment. If …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 58 – Zen Master Joshu’s “No Justification”
The Case A monk said to zen master Joshu, “You so often quote the words, ‘The real Way is not difficult. It …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 57 – Zen Master Joshu’s “I Alone Am Holy Throughout Heaven and Earth”
The Case A monk said to zen master Joshu, ‘It is said, ‘The real Way is not difficult. It only abhors choice …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 56 – Zen Master Kinzan “One Arrow Piercing the Three Barriers”
The Case Ryo Zenkaku asked zen master Kinzan, “What about when one arrow pierces the three barriers?” Kinzan said, “Bring out the …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 55 – Zen Master Dogo’s “I Would Not Tell You”
The Case One day zen master Dogo accompanied by his disciple Zengen, went to visit a family in which a funeral was …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – Nr. 54 – Zen Master Ummon Stretches Out His Hands
The Case Zen master Ummon asked a monk, ”Where have you recently come from?’ The monk said, ‘From Saizen.’ Ummon said, ‘What …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 53 – Zen Master Hyakujo “The Wild Duck”
The Case When zen master Ba Daishi [Baso] was out walking with Hyakujo, he saw a wild duck fly past. Daishi said, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 52 – Zen Master Joshu’s “Stone Bridge”
The Case A monk said to Zen Master Joshu, ‘The stone bridge of Joshu is well known, but when I come here, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – Case No. 51 – Zen Master Seppo’s “What is This?”
The Case When zen master Seppo was living in his hermitage, two monks came to pay their respects. As Seppo saw them …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 50 – Zen Master Ummon “Particle After Particle’s Samadhi”
The Case A monk asked zen master Ummon, ‘What is particle after particle’s samadhi?’ Ummon said, ‘Rice in the bowl, water in …