The Dog chases the Ball, the Tiger bites the Thrower!
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 4 – The Western Barbarian with No Beard
The Case
Master Wakuan said, "Why has the Western Barbarian no beard?"
Mumon's Comment
Study should be real study, enlightenment should be real enlightenment. You should once meet this barbarian directly to be really intimate with him. But saying you are really intimate with him already divides you into two.
Verse
Don't discuss your dream before a fool. Barbarian with no beard obscures the clarity.
Current Availability at Honora Zen Monastery
The Honora Zen Monastery is currently only open for consultation hours by appointment only. The meditation stay is exclusively available to those who have already completed a retreat week or friends of the family.
Properties Wanted – Monastery & Family Life
The balancing act between monastery operations and family life is not always easy to master. The Honora Zen Monastery and Zen Master Reding are looking for a new home in which both are more spatially feasible. Such as a former hotel, monastery, farmhouses or similar properties.