Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 17 – Cho the National Teacher Gives Three Calls

The Case

The National Teacher Cho called his attendant three times, and three times the attendant responded. The NationaI Teacher said, "I long feared that I was betraying you, but really it was you who were betraying me.

Mumon's Comment

The National Teacher called three times, and his tongue fell to the ground. The attendant responded three times, and he gave his answer with brilliance. The National Teacher was old and lonely; he held the cow's head and forced it to eat grass. The attendant would have none of it; delicious food has little attraction for a man who is satiated. Tell me, at what point was the betrayal? When the country is flourishing, talent is priced. When the home is wealthy, the children are proud.

Verse

He carried an iron yoke with no hole And left a curse to trouble his descendants. If you want to hold up the gate and the doors, You must climb a mountain of swords with bare feet.