Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 10 – Zen Master Bokusha’s “Empty-headed Fool”
The Case Zen master Bokushu asked a monk, ‘Where are you from?’ The monk gave a shout. Bokushu said, “This old monk …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 9 – Zen Master Joshu’ s Four Gates
The Case A monk (with the nearby city of Joshu in mind) asked the master of the same name, deliberately omitting the …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 8 – Zen Master Suigan’s Eyebrows
The Case Zen Master Suigan, at the end of the summer session, spoke to the assembly and said, “During the summer session …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 7 – Zen Master Hogen’s “You are Echo”
The Case A monk said to zen master Hogen, “My name is Echo. I ask you, what is the Buddha?” Hogen said, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 5 – Zen Master Ummon’s “Every Day Is a Good Day”
The Case Zen master Ummon addressed the assembly and said, “I am not asking you about the days before the fifteenth of …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 5 – Zen Master Seppo’s “A Grain of Rice”
The Case Zen master Seppo addressed the assembly and said, “All the great world, if I pick it up with my fingertips, …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 4 – Zen Master Tokusan visits Isan
The Case The wandering scholar Tokusan came to the monastery of the Zen master Isan. With the bundle under his arm he …
Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 3 – Zen Master Baso’s “Sun-faced Buddha, Moon-faced Buddha”
The Case The great zen master Baso was seriously ill. The chief priest of the temple came to pay his respects. He …
Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 2 – Zen Master Joshu’ s “The Real Way Is Not Difficult”
The Case Joshu spoke to the assembly and said, “The real Way is not difficult. It only abhors choice and attachment. With …
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 …