Yüeh-shan's Lecture

Yüeh-shan's Lecture

Yüeh-shan had not delivered a lecture to his monks for some time, and at last the chief monk came to him and said, “The monks miss your lecture.” “Then ring the calling-bell,” said Yüeh-shan. When all the monks were gathered in the lecture hall, Yüeh-shan returned to his room without a word. The chief monk followed him, “You said you would give a lecture. Why don’t you do it?” “Lectures on sutras should be given by scholars of the sutras, and those on shastras by students of the shastras. Why do you bother this old monk?”

GENRŌ:

Yüeh-shan’s Zen

Is like a full moon,

Whose pale light penetrates

Thousands of miles.

Foolish ones cover their eyes

Overlooking the truth of Zen.

A bell call the monks;

The old teacher retires to his room.

What a beautiful picture of Zen!

What a profound lecture on Zen!

This is from The Iron Flute by Nyogen & Mccandles, Ruth S Senzaki. Much of these koans were first compiled by Zen Master Genro in the 18th century.

Submitted June 19, 2017 at 03:25AM by Dillon123 http://ift.tt/2rFLSTn