Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – Nr. 44 – Zen Master Kasan “Beating the Drum”

The Case

Zen master Kasan said, "Learning by study is called 'hearing'; learning no more is called 'nearness'; transcending these two is 'true passing.' A monk asked, "What is 'true passing'?" Kasan said, "Beating the drum." The monk asked again, "What is the true teaching of the Buddha?" Kasan said, "Beating the drum."

The monk asked once more, "I would not ask you about 'This very mind is the Buddha,' but what is 'No mind, no Buddha'?" Kasan said, "Beating the drum." The monk still continued to ask "When an enlightened one comes, how do you treat him?" Kasan said, "Beating the drum."

Verse

Dragging a ston carrying earth, use the spiritual power of a thousand-ton bow. Kotsu Roshi rolled out three wooden balls; How could they surpass Kasan' s "Beating the drum"? I will tell you, what is sweet is sweet, what is bitter is bitter.