June 2013
A student asked Baling, "What is the blown-hair sword?"
Baling said, "Each branch of coral holds up the moon."
-Blue Cliff Record Case 100
(translation by Joan Sutherland and John Tarrant)
Baling said, "Each branch of coral holds up the moon."
-Blue Cliff Record Case 100
(translation by Joan Sutherland and John Tarrant)
May 2013
A student asked Zhaoshou, "Does a newborn baby have consciousness?"
Zhaoshou said, "Tossing a ball on rushing waters."
The student went on to ask Touzi, "What does 'tossing a ball on rushing waters' mean?"
Touzi said, "Moment after moment, it never stops flowing."
-Blue Cliff Record Case 80
(translation by Joan Sutherland and John Tarrant)
Zhaoshou said, "Tossing a ball on rushing waters."
The student went on to ask Touzi, "What does 'tossing a ball on rushing waters' mean?"
Touzi said, "Moment after moment, it never stops flowing."
-Blue Cliff Record Case 80
(translation by Joan Sutherland and John Tarrant)
April 2013
only one koan matters
you
you stand inside me naked infinite love
the dawn bell rips my dreaming heart
we're lost where the mind can't find us
utterly lost.
-Ikkyu
you
you stand inside me naked infinite love
the dawn bell rips my dreaming heart
we're lost where the mind can't find us
utterly lost.
-Ikkyu
March 2013
Yunmen Has a Light
Yunmen taught, "Everybody has a light inside. When you're looking for it, you can't see; it's dark, hidden. What is this light that everybody has?"
He answered himself, "The kitchen pantry, the entrance gate."
Then he said, "It's better to have nothing than to have something good."
-The Blue Cliff Record, Case 86*
Translation by Joan Sutherland and John Tarrant
Yunmen taught, "Everybody has a light inside. When you're looking for it, you can't see; it's dark, hidden. What is this light that everybody has?"
He answered himself, "The kitchen pantry, the entrance gate."
Then he said, "It's better to have nothing than to have something good."
-The Blue Cliff Record, Case 86*
Translation by Joan Sutherland and John Tarrant
February 2013
The Buddha made of wood won't pass through fire; if she does, she will surely burn.
The Buddha made of clay won't pass through water; if he does, he will surely drown.
The Buddha made of gold won't pass through a furnace; if she does, she will surely melt.
The true Buddha is in the house.
-Zhaozhou's Three Turning Words.
The Buddha made of clay won't pass through water; if he does, he will surely drown.
The Buddha made of gold won't pass through a furnace; if she does, she will surely melt.
The true Buddha is in the house.
-Zhaozhou's Three Turning Words.
January 2013
Hands and Eyes All Over
Yunyan asked Daowu, “How does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion use all those hands and eyes?”
Daowu answered, “It is like someone in the middle of the night reaching behind her for the pillow.”
Yunyan said, “I understand.”
Daowu asked, “What do you understand?”
“All over the body are hands and eyes.”
“That’s most of it, but not everything.”
“How would you say it?”
“Throughout the body are hands and eyes.”
-Blue Cliff Record #89
Yunyan asked Daowu, “How does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion use all those hands and eyes?”
Daowu answered, “It is like someone in the middle of the night reaching behind her for the pillow.”
Yunyan said, “I understand.”
Daowu asked, “What do you understand?”
“All over the body are hands and eyes.”
“That’s most of it, but not everything.”
“How would you say it?”
“Throughout the body are hands and eyes.”
-Blue Cliff Record #89