Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 67 – Zen Master Fu Concludes His Lecture on the Scriptures

The Case

Emperor Wu of Liang asked zen master Fu to give a lecture on the Scriptures. Fu mounted the platform, struck the reading desk with his baton, and descended from the platform. The emperor was dumbfounded. Shiko said to him, "Your Majesty, have you understood?" The emperor said, "No, I do not understand." Shiko said, "Master Fu has concluded his lecture."

Verse

Instead of staying in his hut, He gathered dust in Liang. Had Shike not lent a hand, He would have had to leave the country, As Bodhidharma did, by night.