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Hekiganroku - Case 91: Enkan and the "Rhinoceros"
One day, Enkan called to his attendant,
"Bring me the rhinoceros fan."
The attendant said,
"It is broken."
Enkan said,
"If the fan is already broken, bring me the rhinoceros himself."
The attendant gave no answer. [1]
Tosu said,
"I wouldn't mind bringing that, but the horn on its head would not be
complete."
(Setcho said, "I need to see that incomplete horn.")
Sekiso said,
"If I brought it back to you, nothing would remain [for me]."
(Setcho said, "That rhinoceros is still there.")
Shifuku drew a circle and wrote the ideograph "ox[2]" in it.
(Setcho said, "Why didn't you bring it out sooner?)
Hofuku said,
"Master, you are so advanced in years. Please engage someone else." [3]
(Setcho said, "Regrettable! All efforts have proved fruitless!")
[1]: To this episode the following Zen personalities give their answers on
behalf of the attendant.
[2]: The Chinese character for "ox" (gyu) is one of the two characters for
"rhinoceros" (saigyu = sai + gyu).
[3]: [Since the task you give me is too harsh.]
Hekiganroku - Case 92: The Buddha Ascends to the Rostrum
One day, the World-Honored One ascended to the rostrum. Monjusri struck the
table with the gavel and said,
"Contemplate clearly the Dharma of the Dharma-King! The Dharma of
the Dharma-King is like this."
Thereupon, the World-Honored One descended from the rostrum.
Hekiganroku - Case 93: Taiko Dances
A monk asked Taiko,
"Chokei said, 'That is exactly like thanksgiving at lunch.' [1]
What did he mean?"
Taiko danced. The monk made a deep bow. Taiko said,
"What have you seen that makes you bow like that?"
The monk danced. Taiko said,
"You stupid fox! [2]"
[1]: cf case 74.
[2]: Cf. the term "fox Zen", which means mere imitation (cf. Case 2 in the
Mumonkan)
Case 94: "Non-Seeing" in the Ryogon Sutra
The Ryogon Sutra says,
"When I don't see, why do you not see what I do not see? If you [argue
that you] see what I do not see, that is of course not what I do not see.
If you do not see what I do not see, then it is quite natural that it
is not a thing. Why is it not your self?"
Hekiganroku - Case 95: Chokei's "Three Poisons"
One day Chokei said,
"Even if you argue that an arhat [1] still possesses 'the three poisons',
don't argue that the Tathagata has two sorts of language. I do not say
the Tathagata has no words. I only say he does not have two kinds
of language."
Hofuku said,
"What are the words of the Tathagata?"
Chokei said,
"How can a deaf man hear?"
Hofuku said,
"Now I know that your language belongs to the second level."
Chokei said,
"What are the words of the Tathagata?"
Hofuku said,
"Have some tea."
[1]: An arhat is a sacred person who has reached the spiritual dimension
without any traces of "the three poisons": covetousness, anger, folly.
Hekiganroku - Case 96: Joshu's Three Turning Words [1]
Joshu showed the assembly three turning words:
"The Buddha made of clay will not pass through water."
"The Buddha made of metal will not pass through a furnace."
"The Buddha made of wood will not pass through fire."
[1]: Cf. case 19 in the Miscellaneous Koans.
Case 97: "Getting Despised" in the Diamond Sutra
The Diamond Sutra says,
"It is about getting despised by other people. If you are to come into hell
because of your sins in your previous life, these sins will be extinguished
because you are despised by the people of this world."
Hekiganroku - Case 98: Tempyo's Two "Wrong"s
Master Tempyo was on an angya [1] and visited Sai'in. (He was always saying,
"Don't say you have understood Buddhism. I have sought after someone who
could give correct explanations, but in vain.")
One day, Sai'in saw him at a distance and summoned him,
"Jyui! [2]"
Tempyo raised his head. Sai'in said,
"Wrong!"
Tempyo went on a couple more steps. Sai'in said again,
"Wrong!"
Tempyo came closer. Sai'in said,
"I have just said, 'Wrong!' twice. Does it mean that it is I
who am wrong, or it is you?"
Tempyo said,
"It is I."
Sai'in said,
"Wrong!"
Tempyo said nothing. Sai'in said,
"Please stay here for the summer [3]. I'll examine the two 'Wrong!'s with
you."
However, Tempyo immediately left him.
Later he was the abbot of his own temple and said to his assembly,
"As I was once on an angya, I was driven by the wind of fate and came to
Elder Shimyo [4], who cried to me, 'Wrong!'. Moreover, he demanded that
I stay with him for the summer to examine this matter with him. I didn't
believe I had done anything wrong then. But when I was on my way down
south, I realized quickly that I had done something entirely 'wrong'."
[1]: A traditional pilgrimage in order to deepen the practice.
[2]: Tempyo's personal name.
[3]: I.e., a summer sesshin for three months.
[4]: I.e., Sai'in.
Hekiganroku - Case 99: Shukuso and the "Buddha with the Ten Bodies"
Emperor Shukuso asked the National Teacher Echu,
"What is the Buddha with the ten bodies who guides the living beings?"
The National Teacher said,
"Sir! Go beyond the head of Vairokana [1]."
The emperor said,
"I don't understand it."
The National Teacher said,
"Never consider yourself to be even the pure Dharma-body."
[1]: The Buddha of the pure Dharma-body.
Case 100: Haryo and the "Sharpest Sword" [1]
A monk asked Haryo,
"What is the sharpest sword?"
Haryo said,
"The moon sits on each branch of the coral."
[1]: Cf. case 22 (c) in the Miscellaneous Koans.