Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 23 – Zen Master Hofuku’s Marvelous Mountain Top

The Case

When zen master Hofuku and Chokei went out for a walk, Hofuku, pointing with his finger, said, "This is Myohocho (marvelous mountain top)." Chokei said, "What you say is well said, but alas!"

[Setcho puts in his comment, saying, "Today, walking with this man what is he plotting?" But again he says, "I don't say we do not find such men as this once in a hundred or a thousand years, but they are rare."]

A monk related this to Kyosei, who said, "But for Chokei's remark, the field would have been littered with skulls."

Engo's Introduction

Jade is tested by fire, gold by a stone, a sword by a hair, water by a staff. In Zen training the degree of one's attainment and one's progress is known by one's words and phrases, one's attitude and actions, one's coming and going, one's asking and responding. Tell me, how will it be done?

Verse

This is the marvelous mountain top! Now weeds grow rampant. You see it clearly, but to whom could you impart it? If you, O Chokei, didn't discriminate, Many would never know, and their skulls would litter the field.