Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 89 – Zen Master Ungan “The Whole Body Is Hand and Eye”

The Case

Zen master Ungan asked Dogo, "What use does the great Bodhisattva of Mercy make of all those hands and eyes?" Dogo said, "It is like a man straightening his pillow with his outstretched hand in the middle of the night." Ungan said, "I have understood." Dogo said, "How do you understand?" Ungan said, "The whole body is hand and eye." Dogo said, "You have had your say, but you have given only eightenths of the truth." Ungan said, "How would you put it?" Dogo said, "The entire body is hand and eye."

Engo's Introduction

When the entire body is the eye, while seeing you do not see. When the entire body is the ear, while hearing you do not hear. When the entire body is the mouth, while speaking you do not speak. When the entire body is the mind, while thinking you do not think. Putting aside the entire body, if there are no eyes, how do you see? If there are no ears, how do you hear?

If there is no mouth, how do you speak? If there is no mind, how do you think? If you are familiar with this point, you are in the company of the ancient Buddhas. However, putting aside being in the company of the Buddhas, with whom should you study Zen?

Verse

To say "the whole" is all right, "the entire" is also well said. If you take it conceptually, you are a million miles away. When the giant roe spreads its the clouds of six directions vanish, its wingbeats lash the seas of the four realms. This is raising a speck of dust, much bleating but little wool! Don't you see! The net of jewels reflect each other! Where does the eye of the staff come from?