Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 49 – Zen Master Sansho “The Golden Carp out of the Net”
The Case Sansho said to zen master Seppo, ‘The golden carp is out of the net! Tell me, what will it feed …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 48 – O Taifu and the Tea Ceremony
The Case O Tifu went to Shokei Temple for the tea ceremony. Ro Joza, lifting the kettle to bring it to Myosho, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 47 – Zen Master Ummon’s “Beyond the Six”
The Case A monk asked zen master Ummon, ‘What is the true Body?’ Ummon said, ‘Beyond the six. Engo’s Introduction Heaven never …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – Nr. 46 – Zen Master Kyosei’s “Voice of the Raindrops”
The Case Zen master Kyosei asked a monk, ‘What is the noise outside?’ The monk said, ‘That is the voice of the …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 45 – Zen Master Joshu’s “Seven-Pound Hempen Shirt”
The Case A monk asked zen master Joshu, “All is reduced to oneness, but what is oneness reduced to?” Joshu said, “When …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – Nr. 44 – Zen Master Kasan “Beating the Drum”
The Case Zen master Kasan said, ‘Learning by study is called ‘hearing’; learning no more is called ‘nearness’; transcending these two is …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 43 – Zen Master Tozan’s “Nor Cold or Heat”
The Case A monk said to zen master Tozan, ‘Cold and heat descend upon us. How can we avoid them?” Tozan said, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 42 – Ho Koji’s “Beautiful Snowflakes”
The Case Ho Koji (Layperson) was leaving zen master Yakusan. Yakusan let ten Zen students escort him to the temple gate to …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 41 – Zen Master Joshu and the Great Death
The Case Zen master Joshu asked Tosu, ‘What if a man of the Great Death comes back to life again?” Tosu said, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 40 – Zen Master Nansen “This Flower”
The Case Riku Taifu, while talking with zen master Nansen, said, ‘Jo Hoshi said, ‘Heaven and earth and I are of the …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 39 – Zen Master Ummon’s “Golden-Haired-Lion”
The Case A monk asked zen master Ummon, ‘What is the pure body of the Buddha?’ Ummon said, ‘Kayakuran [the fence around …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 38 – Zen Master Fuketsu and the Seal of the Patriarch
The Case Zen master Fuketsu took the high seat in the government office of Eishu and said, ‘The Seal of the patriarch …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 37 – Zen Master Banshan “Three Worlds, No Law”
The Case In the middle of teaching his listeners, Zen Master Banshan called into the hall: “In the three In the realms …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 36 – Zen Master Chosha Went for A Walk
The Case One day zen master Chosha went for a walk. When he returned to the gate the head monk said, ‘Ohsho, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 35 – Manjushri’s “Three and Three”
The Case Manjushri asked zen master Muchaku, ‘Where have you recently come from?’ Muchaku said, ‘From the south.’ ‘How is Southern Buddhism …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 34 – Zen Master Kyozan’s “You Have Not Visited Rozan”
The Case Zen master Kyozan asked a monk, “Where are you from?” “Mount Rozan,” answered the monk. “Have you ever visited Gorehe …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 33 – Chinso Shosho Comes to Visit Zen Master Shifuku
The Case Chinso came to see zen master Shifuku. Shifuku drew a circle in the air. Chinso said, “I have no object …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 32 – Zen Master Rinzai’s “What is the Essence?”
The Case Jo Joza asked zen master Rinzai, ‘What is the essence?’ Rinzai, getting up from his seat, seized him, slapped him, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 31 – Zen Master Mayoku Comes to Zen Master Shokei
The Case Zen Master Mayoku came to Shokei carrying his bell staff with him, walked around Shokei’ s seat three times, shook …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 30 – Zen Master Joshu’s “A Big Radish”
The Case A monk asked zen master Joshu, “I have heard that you closely followed zen master Nansen. Is that true?” Joshu …