Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 58 – Zen Master Joshu’s “No Justification”

The Case

A monk said to zen master Joshu, "You so often quote the words, 'The real Way is not difficult. It only abhors choice and attachment.' Isn't that your point of attachment?" Joshu said, "A man asked me the same question once before, and five years later I have still found no justification for it."

Verse

King Elephant's yawn! King Lion's roar! Plain words stop men's mouths. North, south, east, and west, the crow swoops, the hare bounds.