Zen Koan – Mumonkan – Case No. 48 – Zen Master Kempo’s One Road

The Case

A monk said to zen master Kempo, "It is written, 'Bhagavats in the ten directions. One straight road to Nirvana.' I still wonder where the road can be." Kempo lifted his staff, drew a line, and said, "Here it is."

Later the monks asked the same question of zen master Ummon, who held up his fan and said, "This fan jumps up to the thirty-third heaven and hits the nose of the deity Salera Devanam Indra. When you strike the carp of the eastern sea, the rain comes down in torrents."

Mumon's Comment

One, going to the bottom of the sea, lifts up clouds of dust; the other, on top of the highest
mountain, raises towering waves to wash the sky. One holding fast, the other letting go, each
stretches out his hand to support the profound teaching. They are just like two riders starting from opposite ends of the course and meeting in the middle. But none on earth can be absolutely direct. When examined with a true eye, neither of these two great masters knows the road.

Verse

Before a step is taken, the goal is reached; Before the tongue is moved, the speech is finished. Though each move is ahead of the next, There is still a transcendent secret.