Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 1 – Zen Master Joshu’s Dog
Case A monk asked Joshu, “Has a dog the Self-Nature or not?” Joshu answered, “Mu.” Mumons Comment In order to master Zen, …
Mumonkan – Zen Hwadu – Koan Collection
Mumonkan is a Hwadu (koan) collection.
Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 48 – Zen Master Kempo’s One Road
The Case A monk said to zen master Kempo, “It is written, ‘Bhagavats in the ten directions. One straight road to Nirvana.’ …
Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 47 – Zen Master Tosotsu’ s Three Barriers
The Case Zen Tosotsu Etsu set up three barriers for his disciple: You leave no stone unturned to explore profundity, simply to …
Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 46 – Proceed On from the Top of the Pole
The Case Zen master Sekiso asked, “How can you proceed on further from the top of a hundred-foot pole?” Another eminent teacher …
Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 45 – Zen Master Hoen’s “Who Is He”
The Case Zen master Hoen of Tozan said, “Even Shakya and Maitreya are servants of another. I want to ask you, who …
Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 44 – Zen Master Basho’s Staff
The Case Zen master Basho said to his disciples, ”If you have a staff, I will give you a staff. If you …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 43 – Zen Master Shuzan’s Staff of Office
The Case Zen Master Shuzan held up a staff of office before his disciples and said, “You monks! If you call this …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 42 – The Girl Comes out of Meditation
The Case Once, in the old days, in the time of the World-honored One, Manjusri went to the assembly of the Buddhas …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 41 – Bodhidharma’s Mind-Pacifying
The Case Bodhidharma sat facing the wall. The Second Patriarch stood in the snow. He cut off his arm and presented it …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 40 – Tipping Over a Water Bottle
The Case When zen master Isan was with Hyakujo, he was head cook, of the monastery. Hyakujo wanted to choose a master …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 39 – A Mistake in Speaking
The Case Zen monk said to master Ummon, “The brilliance of the Buddha silently illuminates the whole universe…” But before he could …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 38 – A Buffalo Passes the Window
The Case Zen master Goso said, “A buffalo passes by the window. His head, horns, and four legs all go past. But …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 37 – Zen Master Joshu’s Oak Tree
The Case A monk asked zen master Joshu, “What is the meaning of Bodhidharma’s coming to China?” Joshu said, “The oak tree …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 36 – When You Meet a Man of the Way
The Casee Zen master Goso said, “When you meet a man of the Way on the path, do not meet him with …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 35 – Seijo’s Soul Separated
The Case Zen Master Goso said to his monks, “Seijo’s soul separated from her being. Which was the real Seijo?” Mumon’s Comment …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 34 – Zen Master Nansen’s “Reason Is Not the Way”
The Case Zen master Nansen said, “Mind is not the Buddha; reason is not the Way.” Mumon’s Comment Nansen, growing old, had …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 33 – Zen Master Baso’s “No Mind, No Buddha”
The Case A monk asked Baso “What is the Buddha?” Baso answered, “No mind no Buddha.” Mumon’s Comment If you understand this, …
Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 32 – A Non-Buddhist Philosopher Questions the Buddha
The Case A non-Buddhist philosopher said to the Buddha, “I do not ask for words; I do not ask for non- words.” …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 31 – Zen Master Joshu Investigates an Old Woman
The Case A monk asked an old woman, “What is the way to Taisan?” The old woman said, “Go straight on.” When …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 30 – Zen Master Baso’s ”This Very Mind Is the Buddha”
The Case Daibai asked Baso, “What is the Buddha?” Baso answered, “This very mind is the Buddha.” Mumon’s Comment If you directly …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 29 – The Sixth Patriarch’s ”Your Mind Moves”
The Case The wind was flapping a temple flag, and two monks started an argument. One said the flag moved, the other …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 28 – Zen Master Ryutan Blows Out the Candle
The Case Tokusan asked zen master Ryutan about Zen far into the night. At last Ryutan said, “The night is late. Why …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 27 – Zen Master Nansen’s “Not Mind, Not Buddha, Not Things”
The Case A monk asked zen master Nansen, “Is there any Dharma that has not been preached to the people?” Nansen answered, …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 26 – Two Monks Roll Up the Blinds
The Case When the monks assembled before the midday meal to listen to the lecture, the great Hogen of Seiryo pointed at …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 25 – Zen Master Kyozan’s Dream
The Case In a dream zen master Kyozan went to Maitreya’ s place and was led in to sit in the third …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 24 – Fuketsu’s Speech and Silence – Zen Koan & Mysticism
The Case A monk asked zen master Fuketsu, “Both speech and silence are faulty in being ri or bi. How can we …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 23 – Think Neither Good Nor Evil – Zen Koan & Mysticism
The Case The Sixth Patriarch was pursued by the monk Myo as far as Taiyu Mountain. The patriarch, seeing Myo coming, laid …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 22 – Kashyapa’s “Knock down the FlagPole” – Zen Koan & Mysticism
The Case Ananda asked Kashyapa, “Th World-honored One gave you the golden robe; did he give you anything else?” “Anandal” cried Kashyapa. …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 21 – Zen Master Ummon’s “Kanshiketsu” (Shit-Stick)
The Case A monk asked zen master Unmon, “What is Buddha?” Unmon replied “Kanshiketsu (shit-stick)!” Mumon’s Comment Zen master Ummon was too …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 20 – The Man of Great Strength
The Case Zen master Shogen asked, “Why is it that a man of great strength does not lift his legs?” And he …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 19 – Zen Master Nansen’s “Ordinary Mind Is the Way”
The Case Zen monk Joshu asked zen master Nansen, “What is the Way?” “Ordinary mind is the Way,” Nansen replied. “Shall I …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 18 – Zen Master Tozan’ s “Masagin”
The Case A monk asked Tozan, ”What is Buddha?” Tozan replied, “Masagin [three pounds of flax]. Mumon’s Comment Old Tozan attained the …
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 …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 16 – When the Bell sounds
The Case Zen master Unmon said, “The world is vast and wide; Why do you put on your seven-piece robe at sound …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 15 – Zen Master Tozan’s Sixty Blows
The Case Tozan came to study with Ummon. Ummon asked, “Where are you from?” “From Sato,” Tozan replied. “Where were you during …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 14 – Zen Master Nansen Cuts the Cat in Two
The Case Zen master Nansen saw monks of the Eastern and Western halls quarreling over a cat. He held up the cat …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 13 – Zen Master Tokusan Holds His Bowls
The Case One day Tokusan went down toward the dining room, holding his bowls. Seppo met him and asked, ”Where are you …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 12 – Zen Master Zuigan Calls His Master
The Case Zen master Zuigan called to himself every day, “Master!” and answered, “Yes, sir!” Then he would say, “Be wide awake!” …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 11 – Zen Master Joshu Sees the Hermits
The Case Joshu went to a hermit’s cottage and asked, “Is the master in? Is the master in?” The hermit raised his …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 10 – Zen Master Seizei Is Utterly Destitute
The Case The monk Seizei said to zen master Sozan, “Seizei is utterly destitute. Will you give him support?” Sozan called out, …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 9 – Daitsu Chisho Buddha
The Case A monk asked Kyo Seije, “Daitsu Chisho Buddha sat in zazen for ten kalpas and could not attain Buddhahood. He …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 8 – Keichu the Wheelmaker
The Case Zen master Gettan said, “Keicha, the first wheelmaker, made a cart whose wheels had a hundred spokes. Now, suppose you …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 7 – Zen Master Joshu’s “Wash Your Bowl”
The Case A monk said to Joshu, “I have just entered this monastery. Please teach me.” “Have you eaten your rice porridge?” …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 6 – The Buddha Holds Out a Flower
The Case When Shakyamuni Buddha was at Mount Grdhrakuta, he held out a flower to his listeners. Everyone was silent. Only Mahakashyapa …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 5 – Zen Master Kyogen’s “Man up in a Tree”
The Case Zen master Kyogen said, “It is like a man up in a tree hanging from a branch with his mouth; …
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 …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 3 – Zen Master Gutei’s Finger
The Case Whenever master Gutei was asked about Zen, he simply raised his finger. Once a visitor asked Gutei’s boy attendant, “What …
Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case Nr. 2 – Zen Master Hyakujo and the Fox
The Case Whenever Master Hyakujo preached the law, an old man would appear and listen with the monks. If they left, he …