This Month's Koan

January 2026

YANGSHAN SPEAKS FROM THE THIRD SEAT

Yangshan dreamed he went to Maitreya’s realm and was given the third seat. A senior monastic struck the stand with a gavel and announced, “Today the talk will be given by the one in the third seat.”

Yangshan stood up, struck the stand with the gavel, and said, “The truth of the Mahayana is beyond the Four Propositions and transcends the Hundred Negations*. Listen, listen.”

WUMEN'S VERSE

In broad daylight, under the blue sky,
he speaks of a dream in a dream.
Absurd! Absurd!
He deceives the whole audience.

* The Four Phrases are the assertions that things exist, don’t exist, both exist and don’t exist, and neither exist nor don’t exist. The Hundred Negations are the negations of 100 propositions derived from these four phrases. They stand for the whole of Mahayana philosophy.

December 2025

FENGXUE’S JIANGNAN IN MARCH

A student asked Fengxue, “Speech and silence are concerned with equality and differentiation. How can I be free of them?” Fengxue said,
I always think of Jiangnan in March;
partridges chirp among the fragrant blossoms.

WUMEN'S VERSE

Fengxue doesn’t speak with his usual elegance;
before he says anything, it’s already expressed.
If you go on chattering glibly,
know that you’ll never get it.

November 2025

HUINENG’S ORIGINAL FACE*

The Sixth Ancestor Huineng was pursued by Ming the head monk as far as Dayu Peak. Seeing Ming approach, Huineng laid the robe and bowl on a rock and said, “This robe represents the Dharma; we shouldn’t fight over it. You may take it back with you.”

Ming tried to lift it up, but it was as immovable as a mountain. Trembling with fear and awe, he said, “I came for the Dharma, not for the robe. I beg you, brother, please reveal it to me.”

Huineng said, “Don’t think good; don’t think evil. At this very moment, what is your original face?”

In that instant Ming had great realization. His whole body dripped with sweat, and in tears he made his bows saying, “Beyond these secret words and meanings, is there anything of deeper significance?”

Huineng said, “What I’ve just conveyed to you isn’t secret. If you reflect on your own original face, whatever is secret will be right there within you.”

Ming said, “Though I practiced at Huangmei with the assembly, I didn’t realize** my original face. Now, thanks to your pointed instruction, I’m like someone who drinks water and knows for myself whether it’s cold or warm. Brother, you are now my teacher.”

Huineng said, “If that’s the way you feel, let’s both call Huangmei our teacher. Maintain your realization carefully.”

WUMEN'S VERSE

It can’t be described; it can’t be pictured.
It can’t be praised enough; stop groping for it.
There’s nowhere to hide the Original Face.
Even when the world is destroyed, it is not destroyed.

* When the Fifth Ancestor Huangmei gave the robe and bowl of transmission to the illiterate 12 Huineng, he warned him that the other monks wouldn't accept it; he spirited Huineng out of the monastery, advising him to go into hiding. The head monk got wind of this and went after Huineng, on the assumption that he had stolen the robe and bowl.
** Huangmei refers both to the Fifth Ancestor and to the place he taught.

October 2025

MAHAKASHYAPA’S FLAGPOLE

Ananda asked Mahakashyapa, “The World-Honored One transmitted the brocade robe to you. What else did he transmit?”
Kashyapa called, “Ananda!”
Ananda answered, “Yes!”
Kashyapa said, “Pull down the flagpole at the gate.”*

WUMEN'S VERSE

The call is good, the answer even more intimate;
how many discuss this with open eyes?
Elder brother calls, younger brother answers, revealing the family shame;
here is a spring that doesn’t belong to yin and yang.

* The brocade robe is a symbol of dharma transmission; a flag flying at the entrance to a monastery indicated that a talk was being given, so pulling it down meant the talk was over.

September 2025

YUNMEN’S DRIED SHIT

A student asked Yunmen, “What is Buddha?”
Yunmen said, “A piece of dried shit.”

WUMEN'S VERSE

A flash of lightning,
sparks from flint;
if you blink,
you’ve missed it.

* There are a number of interpretations of this, including ’shit stick’ and ‘shit wiper’, but the intent is clearly to invoke something dirty and low.

August 2025

SONGYUAN’S PERSON OF GREAT STRENGTH

Songyuan asked, “Why can’t the person of great strength lift up a leg?”
Then he said, “Say something without moving your lips or tongue.”

WUMEN'S VERSE

Lifting my leg, I overturn the Scented Ocean;
lowering my head, I look down on the Four Dhyana Heavens. 9
There’s no place to put my whole body …
Please finish the poem in your own words.

JULy 2025

NANQUAN, ORDINARY MIND IS THE DAO

Zhaozhou asked Nanquan, “What is the Dao?”
Nanquan said, “Ordinary heart-mind is the Dao.”
Zhaozhou asked, “Should I try to direct myself toward it?”
Nanquan said, “If you try to turn toward it, you go away from it.”
Zhaozhou asked, “How can I know the Dao if I don’t turn toward it?”
Nanquan said, “The Dao isn’t subject to knowing or not knowing. Knowing is delusion; not knowing is blankness. If you truly reach the Dao, you’ll find it as vast and boundless as outer space. How can we talk about this at the level of right and wrong?” With these words, Zhaozhou had sudden realization.

WUMEN'S VERSE

Spring flowers, the moon in autumn,
the cool breezes of summer, winter snow.
When idle concerns don’t cloud your heart-mind,
that’s your best season.

JUNE 2025

DONGSHAN’S THREE POUNDS OF HEMP*

A student asked Dongshan, “What is Buddha?”
Dongshan said, “Three pounds of hemp.”

WUMEN'S VERSE

Thrusting out “Three pounds of hemp!”
Words are intimate, heart-mind is more so.
If you argue about right and wrong,
you are a person of right and wrong.

* Hemp was grown in the monasteries for robes, cushions, pilgrim’s bundles, etc. There’s a story of a Japanese zen teacher who taught this koan in the West and was baffled by the gales of laughter with which it was met.

MAY 2025

THE NATIONAL TEACHER’S THREE CALLS

National Teacher Huizhong called his attendant three times, and three times his attendant responded. Huizhong said, “I was about to say that I was ungrateful to you. But the fact is that you are ungrateful to me.”

WUMEN'S VERSE

You must wear an iron cangue with no hole* it’s no trivial matter, this curse that passes to our descendants. If you want to support the gate and sustain the house, you have to climb a mountain of swords with bare feet.

* A cangue was a form of public punishment like the stocks, except that you carried the cangue around with you.

April 2025

YUNMEN’S VAST AND WIDE WORLD

Yunmen said, “See how vast and wide the world is! Why do you put on your seven piece robe at the sound of the bell?”

WUMEN'S VERSE

With realization, all things are one family; without realization, all things are disconnected. Without realization, all things are one family; with realization, all things are disconnected.

March 2025

YUNMEN SPARES DONGSHAN SIXTY BLOWS

When Dongshan came to see Yunmen, Yunmen asked him, “Where have you come from?”

Dongshan said, “From Chadu.”

Yunmen said, “Where were you during the summer retreat?”

Dongshan said, “At Baozi Monastery in Hunan.”

Yunmen said, “When did you leave there?”

Dongshan said, “August 25th.”

Yunmen said, “I spare you sixty blows.”

The next day, Dongshan returned and said, “Yesterday you spared me sixty blows. I don’t know where I was at fault.”

Yunmen cried, “You rice bag, wandering around like this — now west of the river, now south of the lake!”

With this, Dongshan had great realization.

WUMEN'S VERSE

The lion trains her cub like this, kicking it and dodging away. Dongshan had to be struck again : the first arrow only nicked him, but the second one was deep.

February 2025

NANQUAN KILLS THE CAT

One day at Nanquan’s monastery, students of the eastern and western halls were arguing over a cat. When he saw this, Nanquan held up the cat and said, “Everyone! If you can say a turning word, I won’t kill it.”

No one could respond, so Nanquan cut the cat in two.

That evening, Zhaozhou returned from a trip and Nanquan told him what happened. Zhaozhou took off a sandal, put it on top of his head, and walked out. Nanquan said, “If you’d been here, you’d have saved the cat.”

WUMEN'S VERSE

If Zhaozhou had been there he’d have taken charge. He’d have snatched away the sword and Nanquan would have begged for his life.

January 2025

DESHAN, CARRYING HIS BOWLS

One day Deshan came down to the dining hall, carrying his bowls. Xuefeng asked him, “Where are you going with your bowls, Old Teacher? The bell hasn’t rung and the drum hasn’t been struck.”

Deshan turned and went back to his room. Xuefeng brought this up with Yantou, who said, “Deshan, great as he is, doesn’t yet know the last word.”

Hearing about this, Deshan sent for Yantou and asked, “Don’t you approve of this old monk?” Yantou whispered what he meant, and Deshan said nothing further.

The next day, when Deshan took his teaching seat in front of the assembly, his talk was different from usual. Yantou came to the front of the hall, rubbing his hands and laughing loudly, saying, “How delightful! Our Old Boss has got hold of the last word. From now on, no one in the world can outdo him!”

WUMEN'S VERSE

When you realize the first word, you understand the last. The first and the last — it’s not one word.

December 2024

RUIYAN CALLS TO HIMSELF

Every day, Ruiyan called “Master!” to himself and answered, “Yes!”
Then he would ask, “Are you awake?” and reply, “Yes!”
“Don’t be deceived by others, anytime or anywhere!” “No, no!”

WUMEN'S VERSE

Those who search for the Way don’t realize the truth; they only know the same old discriminating consciousness. This is the source of endless birth and death; the fool takes it for the original self.

November

ZHAOZHOU AND THE HERMITS

Zhaozhou went to a hermit’s cottage and asked, “Anybody in? Anybody in?” The hermit raised his fist. Zhaozhou said, “This water is too shallow for a ship to anchor,” and he left.

He went to another hermit’s cottage and asked, “Anybody in? Anybody in?” This hermit too raised his fist. Zhaozhou said, “Free to give, free to take away, free to kill, free to give life,” and he made a full bow to him.

WUMEN'S VERSE

Eye like a shooting star, activity like lightning — the sword that kills, the sword that gives life.

October

QINGSHUI, ALONE AND DESTITUTE

A student named Qingshui said to Caoshan, “I am alone and destitute. Please help me to become prosperous.”

Caoshan said, “Venerable Shui!”

“Yes, sir!”

“You’ve already drunk three cups of the finest wine in China, and still you say that you haven’t moistened your lips.”

WUMEN'S VERSE

With the poverty of Fandan
and the spirit of Xiangyou,
though he can hardly sustain himself,
he dares to compete with others for wealth.

September

QINGRANG’S NONATTAINED BUDDHA

A student asked Qingrang of Xingyang, “The Buddha of Supremely Pervading, Surpassing Wisdom sat in meditation on the bodhi seat for ten kalpas, 5 but the buddha dharma did not manifest itself and he could not attain buddhahood. Why was this?”

Qingrang said, “Your question is exactly the point.”

The student said, “But he meditated on the bodhi seat; why couldn’t he attain buddhahood?”

Qingrang said, “Because he is a nonattained buddha.”

WUMEN'S VERSE
Better than knowing the body is knowing the heart-mind at peace; when the mind is realized, the body is no longer anxious. When body and mind are fully realized, the saintly hermit has no wish to become a noble.

August

XIZHONG BUILDS CARTS

Yue’an said to a student, “Xizhong made a hundred carts. If you take off both wheels and the axle, what would be vividly apparent?”

WUMEN'S VERSE
Where the wheel revolves even a master cannot follow — the four directions, above, below, north, south, east, west.

JULY

ZHAOZHOU’S WASH YOUR BOWL

A student said to Zhaozhou, “I’ve just entered your monastery. Please give me some guidance.” Zhaozhou asked, “Have you had your breakfast?” The student said, “Yes, I have.” Zhaozhou said, “Wash your bowls.” The student had an opening.

WUMEN'S VERSE
Because it’s so very clear, it takes so long to realize. As soon as you know that a candle flame is fire, you’ll discover your rice has long been cooked.

June

THE BUDDHA TWIRLS A FLOWER

Once, when the Buddha was at Mount Grdhrakuta, he twirled a flower before his assembled disciples. Everyone was silent; only Mahakashyapa broke into a smile. The Buddha said, “I have the all-pervading true Dharma, the subtle mind of nirvana, and the flawless teaching of no-form. This does not depend on language and is a special transmission outside the scriptures. I now entrust it to Mahakashyapa."

May

XIANGYAN UP A TREE

Xiangyan said, “It is as though you were up in a tree, hanging from a branch by your teeth. Your hands and feet can’t reach any branches. Someone appears under the tree and asks, ‘What is the meaning of Bodhidharma’s coming from the West?’ If you don’t answer, you’re not responding to this person’s need. If you do answer, you lose your life. What do you do?”

April

HUOAN’S BEARDLESS BARBARIAN

Huoan asked, “Why doesn't the Western Barbarian have a beard?”

March

JUDI RAISES A FINGER

Whenever Judi was asked a question, he simply raised a finger. One day a visitor asked Judi’s attendant what his teacher taught. The boy raised his finger. Hearing of this, Judi took a knife and cut off the boy’s finger. As the attendant ran from the room, screaming with pain, Judi called to him. When the boy turned his head, Judi raised a
finger, and the boy suddenly awakened.

When Judi was about to die, he said to his students, “I received this one-finger Zen from Tianlong. I used it all my life but never used it up.” With that, he died.

February

BAIZHANG’S FOX

Once when Baizhang gave a series of talks, a certain old man was always there listening with the students. When they left he’d leave, too. One day, however, he remained behind. Baizhang asked him, “Who are you?” The old man replied, “I’m not a human being. In the far distant past, in the time of Kashyapa Buddha, I was head priest at this mountain. One day a student asked me, ‘Does an enlightened person fall under the law of cause and effect?’ I replied, ‘A person like that does not fall under the law of cause and effect.’ With that I was reborn five hundred times as a fox. Please say a turning word for me and release me from my wild fox body.”

He then asked Baizhang, “Does an enlightened person fall under the law of cause and effect?” Baizhang said, “Such a person doesn’t cut the chain of cause and effect.” Hearing this, the old man was himself enlightened. Making his bows he said, “I’ve been released from my fox body. It’s on the other side of this mountain, and I’d like to make a request of you. Please perform my funeral as you would for a priest.”

Baizhang had the monk on duty strike the signal board and inform the assembly that after the noon meal there would be a funeral service for a priest. The students talked about this in surprise. “All of us are healthy. There’s no one in the morgue. What’s this all about?”

After the meal, Baizhang led the students to the foot of a rock on the far side of the mountain. There he used his staff to poke out the corpse of a dead fox. He then performed a cremation ceremony for it.

At the evening teaching, Baizhang told the whole story to the assembly. Huangbo stepped forward and said, “As you say, the old man missed the turning word and was reborn as a fox five hundred times. What if he had given the right answer each time he was asked the question — what would have happened then?”

Baizhang said, “Just come closer and I’ll tell you.”

Huangbo went up to Baizhang and slapped him in the face. Baizhang clapped his hands and laughed, saying, “I
thought the Barbarian had a red beard, but right here is a red-bearded Barbarian.”

January 2024

ZHAOZHOU’S NO

A student asked Zhaozhou, “Does a dog have buddha nature?”
Zhaozhou said, “No.”

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