Koans

[Straw Dog]

Let's share koans!

Twenty monks and one nun were studying meditation with a master.

The nun was a beautiful woman, a fact that was not lost on the monks, despite her head being shaven and her clothes very plain. Several of the monks fell in love with her. One went so far as to write her a letter, insisting that she meet him secretly.

The nun did not respond to the letter. The next day the master gave a lecture to the group. When it was finished, the nun stood up and addressed the monk who had written her the letter. If you love me so much, embrace me now in front of everyone. If you love, love openly.

 

[Banjankri]

From Linji:
"There is only the Independent Man of the Way who is now listening to the Dharma. He is the mother of all the Buddhas. Therefore is the Buddha born from independence. If you truly understand this independence, then you know that the Buddha is not something to be attained!"

"The master went to Sambyo, who asked him where he came from. The master answered that he came from Obaku. Sambyo said: "What did Obaku have to say?" The master said: "Last night the golden bull vanished in the dark, and no trace of him has since been seen." Sambyo said: "The autumn wind blows on the flute of jade. Who is it that understands such music?" The master said: "Having passed ten thousand barriers, he dwells not even in the deep blue sky." Sambyo remarked: "You are are getting too high with this." The master said: "The dragon gave birth to the golden phoenix, The lapis lazuli breaks into sparkling radiance." Sambyo said: "Sit down and have some tea," and then asked again: "Where have you been lately?" The master said: "At Ryoko's. Sambyo asked: "And how is Ryoko these days?" The master left. "

 

[Banjankri]

Banzan, giving instruction, said, "In the Three Worlds, there is not one thing. Where should one seek the mind?"

 

[Straw Dog]

One day, a Zen master saw the Laughing Buddha in the street and asked him, what is the significance of Zen?

Without a word, the fellow dropped his sack on the ground as if to discard it completely.

So then, replied the master, what is the actualization of Zen?

Without hesitation, the fellow picked up the sack, slung it over his shoulder and went on his merry way.

 

[Straw Dog]

An old woman had supported a reclusive monk for 20 years. She had built a modest hut for him, and provided food so that he might have the means to achieve enlightenment.

The old woman wondered whether the monk was making any progress after all this time. To find out, she asked a friend, a young woman who enjoyed sex, to go to the monk to see if she could seduce him.

The young woman went to the monk and tried to seduce him, saying (in effect) let's have sex now.

An old tree grows on a cold rock in winter, the monk replied somewhat cryptically, Nowhere is there any warmth.

The young woman went to the old and reported.

To think I fed and housed that fellow for 20 years, said the old woman angrily. He shows no compassion towards you. He need not have allowed himself to be seduced, but he should have shown you kindness.

She went that same day to the hut of the monk and burned it to the ground.

 

[Twilight Hue]

No Water, No Moon. ....

When the nun Chiyono studied Zen under Bukko of Engaku she was unable to attain the fruits of meditation for a long time.

At last one moonlit night she was carrying water in an old pail bound with bamboo. The bamboo broke and the bottom fell out of the pail, and at that moment Chiyono was set free!

In commemoration, she wrote a poem:

In this way and that I tried to save the old pail
Since the bamboo strip was weakening and about
to break
Until at last the bottom fell out.
No more water in the pail!
No more moon in the water