Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 31 – Zen Master Mayoku Comes to Zen Master Shokei

The Case

Zen Master Mayoku came to Shokei carrying his bell staff with him, walked around Shokei' s seat three times, shook his staff, ringing the bells, stuck it in the ground, and stood up straight. Kei said, "Good."

[Setcho says, "A mistake."]

Mayoku then came to Nansen, walked around Nansen's seat shook his staff, ringing the bells, stuck it in the ground and stood up straight. Nansen said "Wrong."

[Setcho says, "A mistake."]

Mayoku said "Shokei said 'Good' why do you say, 'Wrong'?" Nansen said, "Shokei is good, but you are wrong. You are blown about by the wind. That will lead to destruction."

Engo's Introduction

With subconscious stirring, images appear; with awareness, ice forms. Even if there is no stirring and no awareness, you have not yet escaped from the confinement of the fox's hole. If you truly penetrate in your practice and become master of it, you will experience not a trace of obstruction. You will be like a dragon supported by deep waters, like a tiger that commands its mountain retreat. Then, if you let go, even tiles and pebbles become illuminating; if you hold fast, even pure gold loses its luster. And the koans of the old masters will become tedious. Tell me, what am I talking about?

Verse

This mistake, that mistake,
Never take them away!
In the four seas, the waves subside;
A hundred rivers Bow quietly to the sea.
The twelve bells of the staff tinkled up high;
Empty and silent is the road to the gate.
No, not empty and silent;
The enlightened man must take medicine
For the illness of "having no illness."