Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – Case 11 – Three Three in Front Three Three in Back

A visiting monk came into the Venerable Zen Master Hye-Am's room, prostrated three times and said, "You are three three in front and I am three three in back." Venerable master Hye-Am asked, "If that is true, then what is the three three in front and three three in back, before three three in front and three three in back?" The monk said, "Nothing originally." Said Venerable master Hye-Am, "You cannot declare 'nothing' if there is truly nothing."

The visiting monk smiled pleasantly, prostrated once and said, "Would you tell me the essence of our conversation?" Venerable master Hye-Am said, "Before the affairs of the donkey went away, the affairs of the horse had already come." The visiting monk immediately prostrated again three times and then left.