Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – Case 29 – Iron Yoke Around the Neck

When Zen Master Woon-Moon arrived at Venerable Master Sul-Vong's pavilion, he saw a monk and asked him, "Are you going to see the master in the mountain today?" "Yes, I am." "Let me ask a favor of you. Before speaking to anyone, would you ask the master a question for me directly?" "Sure I will," replied the student. "As soon as you see the master sit on the podium in front of the crowd, go stand right before him, grab him by the collar and ask, "Dear elder one! When are you going to remove the iron yoke around your neck?" The student did as he was told.

When Sul-Vong saw that, he abruptly descended the podium, and standing firmly before the monk, clutched him and requested, "Tell me right away. Tell me right away." But the monk didn't say anything. Sul-Vong, opening his arms to release him, declared, "What you have said were not your own words!" The monk said, "Yes, they were." Zen Master Sul-Vong called the attendant and ordered him, "Bring me the Temple-Staff." Then the monk admitted, "Those weren't my own words. There is a Zen monk down in the pavilion, he is the one who asked you that question."

Sul-Bong immediately informed the temple, "Go and see the Good-and-Wise-One down in the pavilion."

Early next morning Master Woon-Moon came to the mountain. As soon as Sul-Vong saw Woon-Moon at his first glance, he immediately asked him, "What brings you over here?" Master Woon-Moon's head was lowered by this question. Both were in agreement with each other.

Zen Master Hye-Am

What did Master Woon-Moon indicate when he said, "Iron Yoke around your neck?" When Sul-Vong heard Woon-Moon, why did he descend the podium? Why did Master Woon-Moon have to lower his head? If someone asked me the reason, I would say, "As soon as thought moves, it will be disintegrated." A verse says:

Only few know why Sul-Vong descended. Woon-Moon, however, lowered his head without a word. Where elephant king goes, fox cannot be seen. In the lion's cave, no other animal is seen.