Mumonkan Cases
Koan-List of Mumonkan Cases: 1 to 24
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Case 1: Joshu's MU
Zen master Joshu was asked, "Has a dog Buddha nature?" Joshu replied: "MU"
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Case 2: Hyakujo's Fox
"Does a perfectly enlightened person fall under the law of causation or not?"
Hyakujo said: "The enlightened person is one with the law of causation."
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Case 3: Gutei's Finger
Master Gutei cut off a boy's finger.
Why was the boy enlightened, when Gutei raised his finger? -
Case 4: Wakuan's Barbarian with no Beard
Wakuan saw a picture of Bodhidharma and said, "Why has the barbarian from the West no beard?" -
Case 5: Kyogen's Man in a Tree
Kyogen said: "A man's hanging in a tree only by his teeth. Somebody asked him:
'Why did Bodhidharma come to China?' What shall he answer?" -
Case 6: Buddha Twirled a Flower
Buddha twirled a flower. Only MahaKashyapa smiled. Why made him Buddha his successor?
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Case 7:Joshu's Wash your Bowl
Monk: Please teach me! Joshu: Have you had your porridge? Monk: Yes, master. Joshu: Wash your bowl! -
Case 8: Keichu Makes a Cart
Keichu made a cart. Each wheel had 50 spokes. If you remove the wheels and every thing else. What does it tell about Keichu? -
Case 9: A Buddha before History
Asked, why Daitsu, a Buddha before history, didn't realize the truth, Seijo said: "Because he did not." -
Case 10:Sozan and Zeizei
Seizei said to Sozan, 'I'm alone and poor. Please help.' Sozan shouted: 'Seizei!' - Seizei said: 'Yes, sir?' -
Case 11: Joshu Examines two Hermits
Johu asked two hermits: What's up? Both raised a fist. Joshu said: "Schallow water!" to the first, "Fully enlightened!"to the other." -
Case 12: Zuigan Calls himself Master
Zuigan called himself daily: "Master!" and answered himself: "Yes, Sir!"
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Case 13: Tokusan's Last Word
Tokusan went to dinner too early.
Ganto said:"Old Tokusan doesn't know the last word."
What is the last word? -
Case 14: Nansen Cuts the Cat in Two
Nansen said: "With a word of Zen, you save this cat." Silence. Nansen cut the cat in two. -
Case 15: Tozan's Blows
Ummon said: "You don't get three blows." Tozan asked: "Why do you spare me?"
Ummon scolded him. Why was Tozan suddenly enlightened? -
Case 16: Bells and Robes
Ummon said, "The world is vast and wide.
Why do you put on your seven-piece robe at the sound of the bell?" -
Case 17: Three Calls of the Emperor's Teacher
Chu called Oshin, three times. Oshin always said, "Yes!" Chu said, "First I disappointed you. Now you disappointe me." -
Case 18: Tozan's three pound of Flax
A monk asked Tozan, "What is the Buddha?"
Tozan shouted, "Masagin!" (Three pounds of flax.)" Why? -
Case 19: Ordinary Mind is the Way
Joshu asked Nansen, "What is the Way?"
Nansen said, "Your ordinary mind is the Way. -
Case 20: Shogen's Lift a Leg
Shogen said,"Why can a strong man not lift his leg?"
He added: "It's not the tongue that speaks." -
Case 21: Ummon's Dried Shit
A monk asked Ummon: "What is Buddha?"
Ummon answered: "Dried shit." -
Case 22: Kashyapa's Temple Pole
Kashyapa shouted:"Ananda!" Ananda answered: "Yes, Sir?"
Kashyapa said: "Knock down the temple pole!" -
Case 23: Myo's Run After Eno
Eno asked Myo: "What was your original face, when you ran after me?"
At these words Myo was illumined. -
Case 24: Fuketsu Remembers Springtime
What is the truth without talking?
Fuketsu says: I remember flowers and birds in spring.
Koan-List of Mumonkan Cases: 25 to 48
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Case 25: Kyozan's Dream Teaching
Kyozan hit the gavel and said
'The truth of Mahayana is above
words and thoughts!' Why?
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Case 26: Hogen's Roll up Blinds
Two Monks roll up blinds.
Hogen says 'One gains, one loses.' Why? -
Case 27: Nansen's No Mind No Buddha
'Is there any unknown teaching?' Nansen says
'Yes. It's no Mind, no Buddha, no Things.' -
Case 28: Ryutan's Blows Out the Candle
Tokusan "It's dark outside."
Ryutan gives him a candle and blows it out. -
Case 29: Wind Flag Mind
Huineng says "Not the wind, not the flag,
your mind is moving." Why?
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Case 30: Baso's Buddha Mind
Daibai asked Baso: "What is Buddha?"
Baso "This mind is Buddha." Why? -
Case 31: Joshu's Old Woman
Joshu says 'I'll investigate the old woman.'
Next day - 'I've investigated the old woman.' -
Case 32: A Philosopher Asks The Buddha
A philosopher asks the Buddha for the truth without words or silence.
The Buddha went into meditation. -
Case 33: Baso's Buddha
What is Buddha? Baso says
'Neither Mind nor Buddha' Why? -
Case 34: Nansens' Way
Nansen 'Mind is not Buddha.
Knowledge is not the Way.' -
Case 35: Seijo's Two Souls
Seijo's soul was separated from her being.
Goso asked 'Which was the real Seijo?' -
Case 36: Meeting a Master
When you meet a master, what will you do?
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Case 37: The Oak Tree in the Garden
'Why did Bodhidharma came to China?'
Joshu says 'The oak tree in the garden.' -
Case 38: The Ox in the Window
The ox passes through the window completely
... why the tail cannot pass through? -
Case 39: Ummon's Sidetrack
A monk quotes a famous master.
Umon says 'You're on a sidetrack.' Why? -
Case 40: Hyakujo's Water Jug
Hyakujo placed a water jug on the floor.
'Don't call it a water jug.' Isan tipped it over. -
Case 41: Bodhidharma Pacifies the Mind
Eka 'Please, pacify my mind.' Bodhidharma
'Bring your mind and I will pacify it.' -
Case 42: Manjusri's Woman in Meditation
Manjusri can't get the woman
out of Meditation. Momyo can. Why? -
Case 43: Shuzan's Short Staff
Schuzan 'Don't oppose reality, don't ignore
the facts. What is this: my short staff?' -
Case 44: Baso's Staff
Basho 'If you have a staff, I give you one.
If you don't have, I'll throw it away.' -
Case 45: Who is He, the Other?
Sākyamuni and Maitreya, are servants
of Another. Who is He, the Other? -
Case 46: Step from the Top of a Pole
Sekiso 'How do you step forward
from a 100 m Pole? -
Case 47: Tosotsu's Three Gates
What's your true nature,
your death, your life after death? -
Case 48: Kembo's Road to Nirvana
Where is the Road to Niva?
Kembo draws a line 'That's it.'
