25 Kyozan's Dream Teaching
'The truth of Mahayana is above
words and thoughts!' Why?
(The Koan-answer is the picture's caption!)
Hit with a hammer.
An explanation of the Koan answer
The answer seems to be straight forward. Ignore the story, look for the action. Kyozan hit with his wooden hammer to announce his teaching. Just imitate the master of a story. He's always right and leads you to enlightenment. (But don't believe that, not even for a second!)
What next?
The answer seems to be straight forward. Ignore the story, look for the action. Kyozan hit with his wooden hammer to announce his teaching. Just imitate the master of a story. He's always right and leads you to enlightenment. (But don't believe that, not even for a second!)
What next?
The background story of this Koan
The background of this Koan is related to Buddhist teachings and legends Kyozan was dreaming.
In one of his dreams Kyozan went to Maitreya's Pure Land. He recognized himself seated in the third seat in the abode of Maitreya. Someone announced: "Today the one who sits in the third seat will preach.".
Kyozan arose and, hitting the gavel, said: "The truth of Mahayana teaching is transcendent, above words and thoughts. Do you understand?"
At the monastery of a famous bodhisattva the teaching has to sound complicated and sophisticated like some Confucian teachings. But the meaning isn't complicated at all, is it?
What next?
The background of this Koan is related to Buddhist teachings and legends Kyozan was dreaming.
In one of his dreams Kyozan went to Maitreya's Pure Land. He recognized himself seated in the third seat in the abode of Maitreya. Someone announced: "Today the one who sits in the third seat will preach.".
Kyozan arose and, hitting the gavel, said: "The truth of Mahayana teaching is transcendent, above words and thoughts. Do you understand?"
At the monastery of a famous bodhisattva the teaching has to sound complicated and sophisticated like some Confucian teachings. But the meaning isn't complicated at all, is it?
What next?
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Zen Riddle #52-diamond :
How do you hear the Diamond Sutra?
Here's the answer....(Show/Hide)
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#34-shirt #42-treasure #57-way mumonkan
Zen Riddle #52-diamond :
How do you hear the Diamond Sutra?
Here's the answer....(Show/Hide)
Want more riddles? Choose one!
#34-shirt #42-treasure #57-way mumonkan
The original Chinese Goang
Venerable Yangshan dreamed of going to Maitreya's place and being placed in the third seat.
The Arhat having the first seat with the white-gavel said, "Today the acting third seat will speak the Dharma."
Shan thereupon got up with the white-gavel and said, "The Dharma of the Mahayana leaves the four conditions and cuts off the hundred negations. Hear the truth, truly hear.”
What next?
Traditional Commentaries and .... Poems (Gata)
Mumon's comment: I want to ask you monks: Did he preach or did he not? When he opens his mouth he is lost. When he seals his mouth he is lost. If he does not open it, if he does not seal it, he is 108,000 miles from truth.
Wumen says: Just say, was that speaking the Dharma or not speaking the Dharma?
If you open your mouth, you immediately lose by failure; if you shut your mouth, again you lose by death.
Not open, not shut; one hundred and eight thousand.
What next?
The Gata
In the light of day,
Yet in a dream he talks of a dream.
A monster among monsters,
He intended to deceive the whole crowd.
Clear day; blue sky;
In the middle of a dream he tells a dream
Weird shaping, weirdly shaped,
He deceives and admonishes the whole assembly.
What next?
