Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 52 – Zen Master Joshu’s “Stone Bridge”

The Case

A monk said to Zen Master Joshu, "The stone bridge of Joshu is well known, but when I come here, I only find a row of stepping stones." Joshu said, "You only see the stepping stones and not the stone bridge." The monk said : “What is the stone bridge?” Joshu said, “It allows donkeys and horses to cross.”

Verse

No show of transcendence, but his path was high. If you've entered the great sea of Zen, you should catch a giant turtle. I can't help laughing at old Kankei, his contemporary, who said, "It is as quick as an arrow." A mere waste of labor.