Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – Case 25 – Comfort and Consolation

When the Venerable Master Jon-Kang was staying in the Korean Son Academy in Seoul, Venerable Master Hye-Am visited him and asked, "To find comfort and consolation, where would you seek refuge that is neither in the dream state nor in the waking state?"

"That kind of deep Koan is unspeakable," he replied. "Lips are to speak, why is it impossible?" "I will tell you tomorrow." The next day Venerable Master Hye-Am visited again to listen to him, but, he said nothing. Master Hye-Am requested of the Venerable Master Jon-Kang, "Now I am about to return, why don't you see me off?"

Master Jon-Kang took him to the front gate to say good-bye. At the last minute, Venerable Master Hye-Am asked him again, "You told me you would answer tomorrow; it is today, why don't you tell me now?" But he was silent.

Several months later, he did tell Venerable Master Hye-Am, "If this weren't you, I would not say anything." "Well then," said Venerable Master Hye-Am, "quietly tell me."

Venerable Master Jon-Kang said, "To find comfort and consolation, where else would I seek refuge that is neither in the dream sate nor in the waking state?" Venerable Master Hye-Am asked, "Do you mean that there is no place to seek refuge for comfort and consolation which is neither in the dream state nor in the waking state?" But, again, he was silent. There is however, a place of refuge for comfort and consolation, and also there is a live word to speak of this.

Zen Master Hye-Am

If one asked me about this, "Where would you seek refuge to find comfort and consolation that is neither in the dream state nor in the waking state?" I would say,

If one knows how to get up from having fallen on the ground, then he will know the place of refuge for comfort and consolation.