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.’ …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 89 – Zen Master Ungan “The Whole Body Is Hand and Eye”
The Case Zen master Ungan asked Dogo, ‘What use does the great Bodhisattva of Mercy make of all those hands and eyes?’ …