The Paradox of Koans in Zen: Sword and Bridge to the Unconscious
Dear brothers and sisters, the koans of Zen are living paradoxes that open a dialogue with the unconscious. They resemble active imagination …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 1 – Zen Master Joshu’s Dog
Case A monk asked Joshu, “Has a dog the Self-Nature or not?” Joshu answered, “Mu.” Mumons Comment In order to master Zen, …
Mumonkan – Zen Hwadu – Koan Collection
Mumonkan is a Hwadu (koan) collection.
Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 48 – Zen Master Kempo’s One Road
The Case A monk said to zen master Kempo, ‘It is written, ‘Bhagavats in the ten directions. One straight road to Nirvana.’ …
Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 47 – Zen Master Tosotsu’ s Three Barriers
The Case Zen Tosotsu Etsu set up three barriers for his disciple: You leave no stone unturned to explore profundity, simply to …
Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 46 – Proceed On from the Top of the Pole
The Case Zen master Sekiso asked, “How can you proceed on further from the top of a hundred-foot pole?” Another eminent teacher …
Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 45 – Zen Master Hoen’s “Who Is He”
The Case Zen master Hoen of Tozan said, “Even Shakya and Maitreya are servants of another. I want to ask you, who …
Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 44 – Zen Master Basho’s Staff
The Case Zen master Basho said to his disciples, ”If you have a staff, I will give you a staff. If you …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 43 – Zen Master Shuzan’s Staff of Office
The Case Zen Master Shuzan held up a staff of office before his disciples and said, ‘You monks! If you call this …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 42 – The Girl Comes out of Meditation
The Case Once, in the old days, in the time of the World-honored One, Manjusri went to the assembly of the Buddhas …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 41 – Bodhidharma’s Mind-Pacifying
The Case Bodhidharma sat facing the wall. The Second Patriarch stood in the snow. He cut off his arm and presented it …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 40 – Tipping Over a Water Bottle
The Case When zen master Isan was with Hyakujo, he was head cook, of the monastery. Hyakujo wanted to choose a master …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 39 – A Mistake in Speaking
The Case Zen monk said to master Ummon, “The brilliance of the Buddha silently illuminates the whole universe…” But before he could …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 38 – A Buffalo Passes the Window
The Case Zen master Goso said, “A buffalo passes by the window. His head, horns, and four legs all go past. But …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 37 – Zen Master Joshu’s Oak Tree
The Case A monk asked zen master Joshu, “What is the meaning of Bodhidharma’s coming to China?” Joshu said, “The oak tree …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 36 – When You Meet a Man of the Way
The Casee Zen master Goso said, “When you meet a man of the Way on the path, do not meet him with …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 35 – Seijo’s Soul Separated
The Case Zen Master Goso said to his monks, “Seijo’s soul separated from her being. Which was the real Seijo?” Mumon’s Comment …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 34 – Zen Master Nansen’s “Reason Is Not the Way”
The Case Zen master Nansen said, “Mind is not the Buddha; reason is not the Way.” Mumon’s Comment Nansen, growing old, had …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 33 – Zen Master Baso’s “No Mind, No Buddha”
The Case A monk asked Baso “What is the Buddha?” Baso answered, “No mind no Buddha.” Mumon’s Comment If you understand this, …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 32 – A Non-Buddhist 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.” …